Man's Massive Collection Of 'Urban Archaeology' Going Up For Auction

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- A historical treasure trove from New York City and beyond is going up for auction.

Gil Shapiro built the collection, called "Urban Archaeology," over his lifetime, starting when he was a junior in high school, CBS2's Vanessa Murdock reported. It includes light fixtures, sculptures, signs and even a gate from St. Patrick's Cathedral.

Now with Shapiro owning more than his warehouse can hold, everything will be auctioned off by Guernsey's.

"This has got to be one of the most popular events," said Arlan Ettinger, president of Guernsey's. "People are calling from all over the world."

Shapiro said the St. Patrick's Cathedral gates have been in his warehouse for about 25 years. Built in the 1930s, they tower more than 15 feet high and are arguably one of the greatest masterpieces of ironwork ever done.

The gates will likely fetch up to $90,000.

An art deco pendant that hung in the stairwell of the Chrysler Building is worth at least $8,000.

There are also a pair of 14-foot-tall doors from a 1970s Harlem nightclub. They're made from metal over wood. The doors might set their buyer back $30,000.

Many smaller pieces will go for less than $1,000, such as a 1920s gargoyle and a "Let There Be Neon" clock from the '80s.

Stepping beyond the borders of New York, there is an 1890s soda fountain from Ohio. It's made of white onyx, and the syrup locker dispensed 12 flavors.

It likely will fetch about $30,000 at auction.

"It was $1,800 in 1883 when sodas were three cents," Shapiro said.

Then there's a gagantuan chandalier that was made in the early 1900s in the United States. It was bought for the Citibank building, but was too large.

It's possible it will be too big to be auctioned off as well. It may be one of the few pieces of history left on the auction block.

The live auction takes place March 27-28. The public preview starts Tuesday.

For more information on the auction, click here.