St. Patrick’s Cathedral represents the epitome of the Gothic Revival in New York City. A marvel of architectural design for its day, its rich marble exterior sits squarely on a handsome granite base.
Cruciform in plan, its most conspicuous feature is the west front on Fifth Avenue where two identical towers rise to a height of 330 feet with octagonal spires decorated with flame-like (flamboyant) tracery. The transition from the square bases of the towers to the octagonal form of the spires is skillfully made by means of pinnacles which rise above the transition point at the corners.