This building can be called legendary without exaggeration. The Empire State Building is considered to be one of the symbols of the modern era; it is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. Many stories are associated with the building - funny and sad, interesting and just informative. We invite you to find out all the most important about the iconic skyscraper.
History of creation
The completion and grand opening of the world famous giant dates back to May 1, 1931. This incredible building for those times rose 102 floors above the ground, embodying the Art Deco architectural style. Until 1970, when the North Tower of the World Trade Center opened, it was the tallest building in the world. And it was built in just 410 days.
The most recognizable part of the building, the spire, was erected not for decorative but for practical reasons. The architects of the skyscraper planned that the spire would serve as a mooring mast for airships. The last, 102nd floor, according to their idea, would be a mooring platform equipped for lifting this transport. However, these plans were not destined to come true, as unstable and very strong air currents were regularly observed in the upper part of the building, making docking extremely unsafe. So, in 1952, it was decided to place telecommunications equipment on this territory, which is located there to this day.
Exact coordinates
The famous tower is located at New York City, Fifth Avenue, West 33rd and 34th Street. This office building owes its name to the nickname given to the state of New York by the people. People call it "Imperial State", so the name of the skyscraper can be translated as "House of the Imperial State".
At the time of the opening of the Empire State Building in the United States there was a Great Depression, so only a small part of the offices were immediately leased out. And for the first decade of its existence, the skyscraper acquired a nickname - the Empty State Building. But soon the country's economy began to recover, and since then "Empy", as some New Yorkers affectionately call it, has always been popular and in demand. And this is not surprising, since it is located in the heart of the US business life.
How to get there?
This monument of modern architecture is a favorite tourist attraction. And even if you are not at all guided by the terrain, it will not be difficult to find out how to get there. Once in New York, it is enough to drive the address - 350 Fifth Avenue, Manhattan, New York 10118 into the navigator, and it will immediately become clear where to go. You can get to the place by public transport - metro (station 34th Street / Herald Square lines N, Q, R), bus (M4, M10, M16, M34). On the map, all these routes are specially marked for tourists.
Tours
You can take a walk through the territory of the famous Empire State Building on your own, without resorting to the services of a guide. The building has two observation decks - on the 86th and 102nd floors. Visiting the first one will be much cheaper, although, according to many tourists, a more spectacular view opens from it. You can climb to any platform either by elevator or on foot. In the second case, 1860 steps will have to be overcome to the highest point. Those who do not want to hustle in the crazy influx of tourists should go for a walk through the skyscraper on a weekday until eight in the morning.
Interesting Facts
To the cinema
The famous building is constantly in the crosshairs of filmmakers filming in New York. During its existence, it has become part of dozens of world famous films. The official website of the building keeps a record of all films in which it was "lit up". So anyone can get acquainted with it.
Unusual Birthday
On the 84th anniversary of the opening of the Empire State Building, the Whitney Museum of Fine Arts put on a powerful light show. Immediately after dark on May 1, 2015, iconic works of contemporary artists were projected onto the skyscraper building, including paintings by Andy Warhol, Mark Rothko, Edward Hopper.
