Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is the most famous skyscraper in the world and an enduring symbol of New York City and the American 20th century. Raised in just over a year at the depth of the Great Depression, its 102 Art Deco stories soared 1,250 feet above Midtown Manhattan, making it the tallest building on earth for nearly four decades. From King Kong to countless films and its ever-changing crown of colored lights, it has been an icon of ambition and the modern age since it opened in 1931.

The Empire State Building rose out of a fierce 'race to the sky' among New York developers competing to erect the world's tallest building. Designed by the firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon in a sleek Art Deco style, it was financed by a group led by former General Motors executive John J. Raskob. Construction began in 1930 and proceeded at an astonishing pace — the steel frame rose about four and a half stories a week.

Built by thousands of workers, among them many immigrants and Mohawk ironworkers, the tower was completed in just 410 days and opened on May 1, 1931. At 1,250 feet to its roof it easily surpassed the nearby Chrysler Building to become the tallest structure in the world. Because it opened during the Great Depression, much of its office space sat empty for years, earning it the nickname the 'Empty State Building.'

The building endured a dramatic accident in 1945, when a B-25 bomber lost in fog crashed into its 79th floor, killing fourteen people, yet the structure stood firm. It remained the tallest building in the world until 1970 and has starred in films from King Kong to modern blockbusters. A National Historic Landmark since 1986, its tower is now lit in changing colors to mark holidays and events, and its observation decks draw millions of visitors a year.