The excesses of modern architecture began in America in the 1890s. With American industry developing at a phenomenal pace, some businessmen who were manufacturing railroad tracks thought of a new use for their product by adjusting it to be used for making steel frames in architecture.
現代高層建築濫殤於美國，一八九○年代，美國工業發展神速，部分製造火車鐵軌的商人想為鐵軌找出新用途，於是有人將其稍為改良，成為建材用的鋼骨。