The year 1913, the year of the building's completion, was an auspicious time in history. Scientific knowledge and innovation were growing exponentially, the American century was in its infancy, and it was a time of prosperity and hope for the future. Nestled between two other significant events of the early 20th century: the tragic sinking of the Titanic (1912) and the carnage of what would come to be known as The Great War (1914-1918), 1913 was to be the last full year of the Gilded Age and-in a very real sense-the Woolworth Building itself was to be the last hurrah for that bygone era.
No less a personality than President Wilson would inaugurate the building's opening by turning on the electric lights remotely from his desk in the Oval Office. Further uptown, Grand Central Station and the Apollo Theatre would open their doors to the public for the first time.