Soaring Skyscrapers Empire State
Look up its a bird, its a plane - no! Its a skyscaper!
The Empire State Building defines New York City, and provides inspiration and romance to all her admirers.
What was your first introduction to the Empire State Building? Real life? A photograph? Films like King Kong, An Affair to Remember or Sleepless in Seattle? Perhaps the I Love Lucy episode when Martians supposedly landed on the ESB.
For almost 80 years she has remained a symbol of Manhattan– recognized all over the world.
She broke ground in 1930 as the country slid into the Depression, and was finished just 410 days later taking the title of world’s tallest building from its cross-town rival the Chrysler Building.
Like the Chrysler, the ESB was designed in the Art Deco style although noticeably leaner and more low key. Her lines are classic with stylized eagles were affixed to the facades. The series of setbacks along the lower levels, and in the building’s center accentuated the magnificent tower, which rose to 102 floors.
During the age of dirigibles the 102nd floor was intended to be a landing station, and the unique spire a mooring mast. However the updrafts of wind created by the building itself made the plan impossible to implement the plan. The tower then began and continues to present day transmit all sorts of communication signals.
On May 1, 1931 President Herbert Hoover threw the switch from the White House and lit the ESB for the first time. Today the lights illuminating the top convey seasons and special events. St. Patrick’s day is defined by green/green/green/ and red/white/blue marks most US holidays, yellow/yellow/white proclaims spring’s arrival while orange/white/blue highlights the New York Marathon in November and of course red/green/green symbolizes the Christmas season.
Just as dazzling is the building’s lobby. Step in from either the 34th Street entrance and a series of illuminated glass painting greet you. The Great Cheops Pyramids and the remaining Seven Wonders of the World, are joined by an eighth member - the ESB.
Enter from 5th Avenue and the lobby glows from a huge metal relief of the building itself.
For all its splendor and history the ESB went through some trying times.
For years she held the moniker “Empty State Building” due to lack of tenants along her miles of office space. It was not until the 1950's that she became profitable.
In 1945 a B-25 bomber, lost in a heavy fog, crashed into the 79th and 80th floors, killing 14 people. Amazingly, the building reopened for business two days later.
In the past some chose to walk up the 1,576 steps to the 86th floor Observation Deck, but you will take elevators. Once outside the noise of the city disappears and a new world of rooftops and sky opens. Through a series of binoculars, along the perimeter, and clear weather you can see outwards of 80 miles. The 102nd floor observatory is also open and requires additional payment.
Whether observing the Empire State Building from street level or atop the skyline – you’ll know it’s an iconic moment.
Fun trivia
- Under extremely heavy winds the ESB can give up to a quarter of an inch off center
- During the spring and fall migration of birds the top lights are turned off occasionally to keep birds from flying into the building.
- Kissing on the Observation Deck might be shocking due to the building’s static electricity
- The ESB is built on the former site of the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel
