Photo © Library of Congress (LOC)

Old AT&T Building (195 Broadway)

Kalikow Building, Telephone Building, Telegraph Building, or Western Union Building

New York City, New York

Workplace

Architect

William Welles Bosworth

Description

Sited over the former Western Union Building on

In 1932 a long distance telephone call between the US and Europe was routed through AT&T.

It was the site of one end of the first transcontinental telephone call, the first intercity Picturephone call, and the first transatlantic telephone call.

Though AT&T's headquarters relocated to 550 Madison Avenue in 1984, 195 Broadway remains in use as an office building as of 2020.

Opened, 1916

The site was formerly occupied by the Western Union Telegraph Building. The current 29-story, 422-foot-tall (129 m) building was commissioned after AT&T's 1909 acquisition of Western Union. It was constructed from 1912 to 1916 under the leadership of Theodore Newton Vail, to designs by William W. Bosworth.

Addition, 1922

although one section was not completed until 1922.

Landmarked, 2006

Designations

New York City Exterior Landmark in July 25, 2006

New York City Interior Landmark in July 25, 2006

Related People & Organizations

AT&T Co. (American Telephone and Telegraph Company)

Related Sites

1st transcontinental telephone call

Map View