What A Trip: A Travel Writer Reports: Victoria's Secret fashion show highlights super models at Lexington Armory, NYC (photos, video)

By Jane Lasky

December 1, 2009: Once a counseling center for victims of the 9/11 attacks, the Lexington Armory in New York City switched gears tonight (December 1) to became a worldwide runway as Victoria's Secret super models galore. They pranced the venerable venue's hallowed halls while musical acts like Fergie, will.i.am and Taboo from the Black Eyed Peas rocked out. The glitzy show took place last month but, thanks to the magic of television, we were able to take a peek from the small screen this evening on CBS.

Besides being mesmerized by the prize of the evening -- a $3 million harlequin fantasy bra decked out in 2,300 diamonds -- we also caught a glimpse of the historical landmark's many assets.

The vast space started life in 1913 when the whole of the United States was introduced to Modern Art in a seminal exhibition. Then, in 1948, when the roller derby was all the rage, skaters took over, letting the Lexington Armory play host to some 17 matches. During the mid 19th-century, the New York Knicks played basketball on this spot, calling the Lexington Amrory the celebrated basketball team's home court until they moved to Madison Square Garden in 1968.

The cameleon-like building that became a National Historic Landmark in 1966 runs from 25th to 26th strees on Lexington Avenue, hence its name.

With this history behind us, please take a look at the photos above and below, retelling this storied edifice's visual epitaph, up to and including tonight's big attraction on CBS: The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show. Meanwhile, many more events are sure to visit this New York City mainstay, so stay tuned as I will cover this news BEFORE it happens.

Photos above: Black Eyed Peas perform (AP, Jason DeCrow); exterior of Lexington Armory (Wikipedia, public domain), Modern Art exhibition poster (Wikipedia, public domain),