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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.The Flatiron Building in New York is often quoted
http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/Flatiron_Building.html
1902
This is one of those question where you have to be very specific.
It was only with the development of the steel framed building (and the elevator) that buildings could go above a certain height. Previously building built of brick and stone would face the possibility of literally collapsing under its own weight.
As rsd points out there were very tall buildings before steel frames and there were steel framed buildings before the flatiron but the flat iron is generally considered the first stell framed building to go above a certain height. There are however taller (and earlier) buildings elsewhere all claiming to be the first 'skyscraper' - its very complicated but for arguments sake the flatiron is usually considered the first.
It was only with the development of the steel framed building (and the elevator) that buildings could go above a certain height. Previously building built of brick and stone would face the possibility of literally collapsing under its own weight.
As rsd points out there were very tall buildings before steel frames and there were steel framed buildings before the flatiron but the flat iron is generally considered the first stell framed building to go above a certain height. There are however taller (and earlier) buildings elsewhere all claiming to be the first 'skyscraper' - its very complicated but for arguments sake the flatiron is usually considered the first.
As ever wiki gives a good description including the distinction between 'high rise' and skyscraper.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscrapers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skyscrapers