Why There’s No 13th Floor in New York
In New York hotels and buildings, you won't often find a 13th floor... New York is "triskaidekaphobic"!
Americans and the fear of the number 13…
- If you’re superstitious, this article might help you ward off bad luck. In New York, as throughout the United States, you’ll quickly notice that Americans fear anything connected to the number 13. This unlucky number recalls the number of guests at Christ’s last meal.
- In New York hotels and older buildings, you’ll rarely find a 13th floor. Elevators jump directly from the 12th to the 14th floor, with the 13th floor relabeled as the 14th. In some buildings, the number 13 is replaced by 12A or, less commonly, by the letter M, the 13th letter of the alphabet.
An old superstition that won’t go away
- Fear of the number 13 dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe, but it traveled well to the United States. Even today, many real estate developers skip the 13th floor rather than risk losing investors. Hotels do the same, preferring to omit 13 rather than deal with constant requests for room changes.
- Will New York ever overcome its fear of 13? Newer buildings are starting to include a 13th floor labeled honestly as such.
