Dubbed as New York's most iconic skyscraper, the venerable Empire State Building stands undiminished by time. Its spire not only captivated King Kong but also stands as one of the greatest architectural feats of the 20th century, illuminating every postcard with its grandeur. Presenting the Empire State Building — New York's towering tale of triumph!
The Construction Story
This nearly 90-year-old elder statesman of buildings was always business-minded, originally designed to house offices. By the 1930s, it was the construction project of the century, unprecedented with its 103 business-designated floors. It was crowned with a regal name: Empire State — New York's unofficial moniker, symbolizing the flourishing America.
But this business center was more than just a hundred floors — it was also intended to be a dirigible station! The plan was to make the building's spire a mooring mast for zeppelins, and the upper floors a sort of air terminal. However, they scrapped the idea for safety reasons, but not the spire.
Construction risks were minimized like never before. All the technologies were copied from the 21-story Reynolds Building in North Carolina, just scaled up. This led to a sweet tradition — to this day, every Father's Day, the Empire State Building's administration sends a card of thanks to the administration and staff of the Reynolds Building.
Meanwhile, the Chrysler Building was also under construction, where foremen often ran to spy on the mistakes of other builders. This copying had its benefits — during the Empire State's sky-high construction, only 5 workers perished. For the 1930s, where safety often meant just a rope around the waist, this was an outstanding achievement. The construction saw not only European immigrants but also Native Americans participating.
From bare earth to the tallest business skyscraper in the USA took just 410 days. Workers averaged about 4-5 floors per week. On May 1, 1931, the ribbon was cut in front of the 443-meter Empire State Building. But it was just the beginning.
20 Years of Emptiness
At the building's opening, the Great Depression was raging across the USA, and the Empire State Building became one of the symbols of Manhattan's hard times.
Bankrupt American businessmen often ended their lives in suicide at that time. And jumping from the roof of the country's tallest office center seemed particularly symbolic. For this grim "career peak" ritual, people came from all over the country. Not everyone managed to go through with it, but hundreds tried. The most common dark joke at the time was: "Late for work because a body fell from the Empire State Building right in front of me. Checked my wallet — decided to go up too."
Until the 1950s, less than half of the building's offices were leased. People nicknamed it the Empty State Building. And in 1945, a military plane crashed into the building — the pilot didn't see the top in thick fog. Things couldn't get any worse, and it seemed like the skyscraper was cursed.
A New Height
In 1951, the Empire State Building was sold for a record-breaking $51 million for those times. The new owner managed to attract both funds and people: almost immediately after the purchase, he negotiated with telecommunication companies to place antennas and equipment at the top of the tower. And so the activity began.
Along with media offices, a recovering economy, and the looming war in Vietnam, the building became, as they say, a hub of hustle and bustle. Television and radio became magnets for people, rental prices skyrocketed, and having a place in the Empire State, right at the epicenter of events, became more prestigious than anywhere else. Until the construction of the World Trade Center towers in the '70s, the skyscraper remained the tallest in the world.
Today, the building remains one of New York's icons and an architectural gem of Manhattan. In addition to housing offices of some of the world's most respectable companies, there are several observation decks, attractions, and a gallery. The building hosts the most famous race in the USA — the run-up to the 86th floor. Competitions are not only for civilians — separate tours are organized for firefighters and police officers in full gear.
So the New York old-timer is still full of life! And, like any elderly but sprightly person, he loves entertaining guests.
The Empire State Building tells tales of old New York to the skyscrapers, sets the rhythm of city life, remaining an unchanging icon of ambition and dreams. Ascending to its observation deck, you will touch the heavens, imbibe the spirit of the city that never sleeps.
The Empire State Building is a living legend, narrating stories of grandeur and possibilities, where each window opens up a new vista. Begin your New York journey with a visit to this architectural wonder, and let it be the pinnacle of your American adventure.
To visit New York and not stop by the Empire State would be a sin. And to make your visit as fascinating as possible, turn to American Butler!
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