Empire State Building, Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown South, Manhattan, United States
The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco tower on Fifth Avenue between West 33rd and 34th Streets, its limestone and granite facade set into a riveted steel frame weighing about 370,000 tons. The five-story base fills the lot, then the shaft steps back at the 21st, 25th, 30th, 72nd, 81st and 85th floors, ending in a 16-story spire and antenna.
Construction started in 1930 under architect William Lamb and finished in just 410 days in 1931, initially serving mainly as office space. The tower held the title of tallest building in the world until 1970 and underwent several modernizations over the decades.
Visitors arrive daily from around the world to photograph the city from the observation decks, often marking special occasions like engagements or anniversaries. The tower spire lights up at night in changing colors tied to holidays or events, making the building a visible part of New York public life.
Elevators carry visitors to the observation decks daily from 8 AM to 2 AM, with early mornings or late evenings drawing fewer crowds. Buying tickets online in advance avoids long waits at the entrance.
The 203-foot pinnacle above the 102nd floor carries much of the building's broadcast antennas and ends in a lightning rod. The spire has no intermediate floors and is used mostly for mechanical purposes. The lobby walls hold marble inlays showing the tower as an eighth wonder beside the seven ancient wonders, with a map of North America behind.
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