Empire State Building

Photo: David Shankbone License:

It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until the construction of the World Trade Center North Tower in 1972. It is now once again the tallest building in New York.

The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931, when President Herbert Hoover turned on the building's lights with the push of a button from Washington, D.C.

The elevator core contains 67 elevators.

In 1964, floodlights were added to illuminate the top of the building at night, in colors chosen to match seasonal and other events.

The Empire State Building has one of the most popular outdoor observatories in the world, having been visited by over 110 million people. The 86th floor observation deck offers impressive 360-degree views of the city. There is a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public.

The top of the tower was originally designed to dock derigibles.