National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame: Elisha Graves Otis
Brief article about Otis, the developer of the electric elevator brake which made skyscraper construction so practical.
TeachEngineering
Teach Engineering: Newspaper Tower
Students will be challenged to design and construct a tower out of newspaper. They will have limited supplies including newspaper, tape, and scissors since engineers are often restricted by economic reasons as to how much material they...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Will There Ever Be a Mile High Skyscraper?
Stefan Al explains how mile-high skyscraper megastructures became fixtures of our city skylines.
PBS
Pbs Building Big: The Labs
An interactive series of labs describing some basic principles of Physics. The labs demonstrate different basic concepts of physics used in building and creating large structures such as bridges, domes, skyscrapers, dams, and tunnels.
Independence Hall Association
U.s. History: The Glamour of American Cities
You can't keep them down on the farm! Read about the glamour and allure of the city in the late 19th century where electricity and skyscrapers, along with other thechnological advances, enticed people into the city from the country.
Boston College
Digital Archive of Amer. Architecture: Tallest Buildings
This site provides a chart of the tallest buildings from the 19th century to the present. Offers links to each of the buildings that include pictures of them.
Rudiments of Wisdom
Rudiments of Wisdom: Modern Architecture
Learn about modern architecture in a unique way. All of the fun-fact information is drawn in a cartoon style.
Rudiments of Wisdom
Rudiments of Wisdom: Skyscrapers
Learn about skyscrapers in a unique way. All of the fun-fact information is drawn in a cartoon style.
Science for Kids
Science Kids: Science Facts: Building Facts
This site includes information and facts about a wide range of famous buildings from around the world.
PBS
Pbs Teachers: Newspaper Tower
Investigate the basic forces acting on a tower and the importance of foundations.
PBS
Pbs: The Bridge Challenge
This site from PBS is for any user wanting test their engineering skills. Take a trip to Craggy Rock and help their growing community decide on four new bridges.
PBS
Pbs: The Dome Challenge
This site from PBS is a great web site for anyone interested in using some engineering skills. Travel to sizzling hot Char County and help the residents decide on three new domes.
archKIDecture
Arch Ki Decture: Skyscraper, Defined and Illustrated
The "Word of the Week" from ArchKIDecture, a teacher-created site that encourages awareness of human-built environments, defines and illustrates the term "skyscraper."
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mit: Inventor of the Week: Elisha Otis and the Elevator
This site, which is provided for by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, gives a very brief article on the developer of the early elevator. Images are included as well.
Other
New York Public Library: The Construction of the Empire State Building
A collection of photos of the showing the Empire State Building under construction.
ClassFlow
Class Flow: The Great Giants
[Free Registration/Login Required] This flipchart provides a picture of and links to websites of some of the great skyscrapers of our time, including the World Trade Center.
PBS
Pbs: Building Big Empire States Building
Quick facts about one of the world's tallest buildings.