The legendary skyscraper Empire State Building - its history and interesting facts. Empire State Building: the history of the famous tower Where is the Empire State Building located

Empire State Building (USA) - description, history, location. Exact address, phone number, website. Tourist reviews, photos and videos.

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It’s not worth climbing higher, to the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building - the observatory located on it does not provide a proper all-round view, and the entrance ticket is much more expensive. True, on the 102nd floor of the building and its roof you can still see unique mooring masts for airships, although the skyscraper itself has never received a single aircraft. When visiting the Empire State Building, you do not need to use the services of guides, because it is absolutely pointless to comment on the beauty of the view from a bird's eye view. In addition, all the attractions are carefully marked on a special diagram located on the observation deck. It is best to go up to the Empire State Building on a weekday at about eight in the morning - at this time the influx of tourists is much lower, and you will not have to stand at the ticket office for hours.

If your physical fitness allows you and you are confident in your abilities, then you can try to take part in the annual race up the stairs to the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, covering more than one and a half thousand steps along the way.

Fun facts about the Empire State Building

In the first years of its operation, the Empire State Building was considered the eighth wonder of the world. And even though today there are more ingenious structures, but special seven panels located in the building’s lobby depict the seven wonders of the world. The eighth panel, majestically completing the cycle, depicts the Empire State Building.

Empire State Building

Prices on the page are for October 2018.

New York is a city of thousands of skyscrapers, each of which is unique and inimitable in its own way. But only one of them managed to gain worldwide fame and become firmly entrenched in the history of the city forever. The Big Apple is proud of the Empire State Building - its most recognizable landmark.

Located in the southern part of Manhattan, near 5th Avenue, at the intersection of 33rd and 34th streets. Nearby are several important places in the city, such as the City University of New York, Madison Avenue and Broadway. You can get there by car or public transport.

Skyscraper height

The height of the Empire State Building in New York is just over 443 meters (including the spire), and the height of the roof of the building is 381 m. The last floor is located at 373.1 m.

In total, the building has 103 floors. All of them occupy an area of ​​more than 200 thousand square meters. square meters. For the convenience of visitors, it is equipped with 73 elevators, which will take you to the very top in a matter of minutes.

85 tiers are reserved for offices. There are two more observation platforms. The rest of the building contains exhibition halls, trading areas and rooms for business meetings and negotiations.

Story

It began its history at the beginning of the last century. At that time, a real boom in the construction of high-rise buildings began in America.

Design

A famous architect, William Lamb, was invited to work on the project. The legendary high-rise was not his first creation. He also designed the famous Carew Tower and the Reynolds Building.

According to the author's idea, the object was to become not only the tallest building, but also the first 100-story building in America. As a result, according to the project, the Empire State Building gained 103 floors and a 60-meter spire. The latter, by the way, was originally intended to be used for remooring airships. However, due to the danger of collision and constant strong winds, it was decided to abandon this idea. The spire is now used as a radio and television antenna.

Construction

Construction began in 1930. The main contractors were the brothers Starrett and Eken. The project was financed by Pierre Dupont and John Raskob.

Almost 3.5 thousand workers from Europe were involved in the process, as well as foundry workers of Indian origin, who were not at all afraid of heights.

At the time of construction, an old hotel was located on the site where construction was planned. The previous building had to be demolished, and the hotel itself was moved to Fifth Avenue.

Several tons of aluminum, steel, limestone, concrete and granite were used to bring the project to life. Construction lasted only 13 months, which by those standards was very fast.

Opening

It was inaugurated on May 1, 1931. The red ribbon was cut by the then head of state, Al Smith. At the same moment, the President of the country pressed a button in the capital, and the high-rise building shone with thousands of lights.

Despite all the pomp, it did not initially gain much popularity. This reaction was primarily due to the Great Depression that was prevailing in America at that time.

Due to the crisis, the offices were completely filled only after a decade. The skyscraper brought its first profit only in 1951.

Among the most original are:

• elevators go up in 1 minute;
• There is an annual speed climbing competition. The first person to climb 1,860 steps will receive $1 million;
• during the Second World War, a plane crashed into a skyscraper due to heavy fog;
• in the Empire State Building there is a hall dedicated to world records;
• the high-rise has its own index;
• the name represents the greatness of New York State;
• more than 50 weddings are held here every year;
• attendance – about 35 thousand people per year;
• Almost 100 lightning strikes the Empire State Building every year;
• the high-rise “played” main role in a movie about King Kong;
• during its history, the building has survived more than two dozen suicides;
• included in the US National Register of Historic Places;
• A professional athlete from Australia completed all the steps in less than 10 minutes.

Specifications

The height, including the spire, is slightly more than 440 m. The width of the structure is 140 m. The choice of these dimensions is due to the need for natural lighting and proper installation of the ventilation system. The main support is the first five flights of stairs of the building, which contain shops and a lobby.

The Empire State Building has 6,500 windows covering a total area of ​​2 km². The design is as simple as possible. This greatly facilitated and accelerated the construction process.

The spire consists of 16 tiers. At its very top there is an antenna that transmits television and radio signals throughout the country.

Architectural features

Home distinctive feature The buildings of the early 20th century were characterized by restraint and elegance. In this regard, The Empire State Building was built in the classic Art Deco style. The façade is finished in steel and gray limestone slabs.

The Empire State Building was one of the first skyscrapers to be built using prefabricated steel frames. The assembled structure was covered with bricks, and then lined.

Lighting

In addition to the usual lighting, it is equipped with additional lighting. In 1964, special spotlights were installed on the upper part, and the famous high-rise began to sparkle with all the colors of the rainbow.

The color scheme is chosen depending on the day and event. For example, on the days of sports games the top lights up with the colors of a particular team, on the day of gay pride parades - with multi-colored flowers, and on St. Patrick's Day - green.

When the world heard the news about the death of Frank Sinatra, in memory of him the building was dressed in blue; in honor of the birthday of the Queen of Great Britain, the skyscraper lit up with the colors of the royal house.

Interior

Over its long history, the internal appearance has undergone some changes. So, initially the design was very modest and inconspicuous. Perhaps that's why for a long time It was difficult to rent out offices. After the events of September 11, many large companies moved into the building and decorated the premises in their own style.

The lobby is decorated with German marble, in subdued gray and purple tones. At the end of the corridor there is an aluminum bas-relief depicting a skyscraper bathed in the rays of the sun.

Observation platforms

Thanks to viewing platforms, it has become extremely popular among both local residents, and among city guests. In total, more than 110 million people have already visited it.

The high-rise building boasts two of them at once. One is located on the 86th tier. The viewing angle from this place is as much as 360 degrees, thanks to which the Big Apple is visible at a glance.

An equally impressive view opens from the 102nd tier. This observation platform is slightly smaller in size than the first one, and for maximum safety of visitors, it is completely glazed. It doesn't work all the time. On very busy days the site is closed.

There is an exciting attraction on the 2nd floor. It was created specifically for guests of the famous metropolis. New York Skyride is a simulated flight over New York City. Virtual trip lasts 25 minutes. During this time, you can fly around the entire city and visit its most famous attractions in absentia.

The attraction is open all year round. Ticket price is $52. Opening hours: from 8.00 to 22.00.

Exhibition "Sustainability"

It is also famous for its unusual exhibitions. First, you should go to the second floor of the building and visit the “Sustainability” exhibition. Its main task is to show what internal and external changes have occurred in the Empire State Building over time.

During the tour you can see with your own eyes Construction Materials, sculptures, the latest technologies that were used for reconstruction. For better perception, all processes are presented on digital displays.

Exhibition "Don't be afraid to dream"

Climbing to the 80th floor, you can see an equally interesting exhibition – “Dare to Dream”. It demonstrates all stages of the design and construction of the world's first 100-story skyscraper. The name of the exhibition was not chosen by chance.

Visitors to the exhibition can not only learn full story high-rise buildings, but also see original sketches, accounting documents, photographs.

How to get there

There are several ways to get there. This can be either your own car or public transport.

To get to your destination by subway, you must take the Herald Square Station (Lines B, N, R, M, D, Q, F) or Penn Station (Lines 1, 2, and 3). If your choice is a bus, then you should use the M4, M10, M16 and M34 routes. If desired, you can use a taxi service. The time and cost of the trip will depend on the point of departure.

Opening hours

Open daily, seven days a week. Opening hours: from 8:00 am to 2:00 am. The elevator makes its last ascent to the observation deck at 1.15. The time spent in the building and on observation platforms throughout the day is not limited.

How to get

Entrance to the territory is absolutely free for all visitors. But to get to the observation decks, you need to purchase a ticket. You can go upstairs either by elevator or on foot.

Purchasing tickets

To avoid long queues, it is better to purchase a ticket in advance before visiting. This can be done at the box office or on the official website. Entrance to the observation deck on the 86th floor will cost $32. For a comprehensive visit you will have to pay $52. If you were unable to buy a ticket in advance and do not want to stand in line for a long time, you can buy an express pass. The cost is $55 and $75 respectively.

Local residents can get to the observation decks with a special city ticket. Discounts are available for schoolchildren, students and pensioners.

You should know:

• there are no luggage storage facilities, so you will have to carry all your personal belongings with you;
• security does not allow large items and bags to be taken to the upper floors;
• passes must be purchased in advance;
• There is a strong wind blowing on the 86th floor, so it is worth taking a hat with you;
• to see the city through binoculars, you need to stock up on 50-cent coins;
• It is better to visit observation platforms in the first half of the day.

Official website and other contact information

Address: New York, Manhattan, 350 Fifth Avenue

The building was designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. The creators of the skyscraper designed it in the Art Deco style. Unlike most modern skyscrapers, the facade of the tower is made in a classical style. The only decorative element of the gray stone facade is vertical strips of stainless steel. The hall inside is 30 meters long and three floors high. It is decorated with panels depicting the seven wonders of the world, and an eighth is added to them - the Empire State Building itself.

The skyscraper was built in a record 410 days, on average 4.5 floors were built per week, and sometimes in 10 days the new building grew by 14 floors. 5,662 cubic meters of limestone and granite were used for the construction of the external walls. In total, the builders used 60 thousand tons steel structures, 10 million bricks and 700 km of cable. The building has 6,500 windows. Its design is such that the main load is borne by the steel frame, not the walls. It transfers this load directly to the powerful “two-story” foundation. Thanks to the innovation, the weight of the building was significantly reduced and amounted to 365 thousand tons.

By the time construction was completed, the height of the building was 381 m (after the television tower was erected on the roof of the Empire State Building in 1952, its height reached 443 m).

On May 1, 1931, the official opening of the skyscraper took place. The Empire State Building was opened by the then president of the country, Herbert Hoover: with the flick of a switch from Washington, he lit the lights of the tallest man-made structure in the world at that time.

The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world for more than 40 years. The skyscraper lost this title only after the construction of the “twin” towers of the World Trade Center in 1972. The tragic death of the “twin” towers during the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, returned the Empire State Building to the status of the tallest building in New York, although the skyscraper could no longer lay claim to world leadership.

The Empire State Building occupies about one hectare of land on Manhattan Island, at the intersection of 5th Avenue and 34th Street. The building houses the offices of 640 companies employing about 50 thousand people.

The skyscraper is a landmark of Manhattan and New York. Thousands of tourists visit the famous skyscraper every day. In one minute, using a high-speed elevator, they can go up to the observation deck located on the 86th floor and see the panorama of New York: its streets, squares, parks, bridges and even ships at sea. On the 102nd floor there is a glass-enclosed circular observatory. From a height of 381 m, a panorama of five states opens up.

A landmark of New York is considered not only the skyscraper itself, but also its unique lighting system. The tradition of lighting up the Empire State Building different colors on various holidays it has existed for a long time. So, on US Independence Day, the skyscraper turns blue-red-white, and on St. Patrick's Day - green, on Columbus Day - green-white-red. To do this, plastic disks are changed on 200 floodlights illuminating the 30 upper floors.

Even before a television and radio tower was placed on the roof of the skyscraper, it was planned that the upper part of the Empire State Building would serve not only for the festive lighting of the city. The architects designed the roof structure in such a way that it would serve as a pier for passenger airships, which in the 30s. of the last century were a fashionable vehicle and successfully competed with passenger aircraft that were not yet very reliable. The 102nd floor was a berthing platform with a gangway for boarding the airship. A special elevator running between the 86th and 102nd floors could be used to transport passengers whose check-in had to be done on the 86th floor. In reality, not a single airship has ever docked on top of the Empire State Building. The idea of ​​an air terminal turned out to be unsafe - strong and unstable air currents at the top of the 381-meter building made docking very difficult. And soon airships basically ceased to be used as a means of transport.

On the second floor of the building there is an attraction, opened in 1994 for tourists. The attraction is called New York Skyride and is a simulator of air travel over the city. The duration of the attraction is 25 minutes. From 1994 to 2001, an older version of the attraction operated, featuring actor James Doohan, Scotty from Star Trek, as an airplane pilot, humorously trying to maintain control of the plane during a storm. After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, this attraction was closed. In the new version, the plot remained the same, but the World Trade Center towers were removed from the scenery, and actor Kevin Bacon became the pilot instead of Doohan. The new version pursued, first of all, educational and informational purposes rather than entertainment. It also included patriotic elements.

In terms of the number of films the Empire State Building has been featured in, the building rivals top movie stars. It all started with King Kong, filmed in 1933, where the final battle of a huge gorilla with American Air Force fighters took place on the roof of this skyscraper. Now the list of films in which the Empire State Building appears, given on the official website of the skyscraper, includes 91 films.

Among other things, the Empire State Building is also the site of some of the most unusual competitions. Every year in early February, skyscraper staircase running competitions are held here. Athletes climb 1,576 steps of the building - from the 1st to the 86th floor - in a few minutes. In 2003, Paul Craik set a record that has not yet been broken - 9 minutes 33 seconds.

Over its almost 80-year history, the Empire State Building has experienced a significant number of different incidents. On July 28, 1945, a USAF B-25 Mitchell bomber, lost in dense fog, crashed into the building between the 79th and 80th floors. One of the engines pierced the skyscraper and fell onto the roof of a neighboring building, the other fell into the elevator shaft. The fire that resulted from the collision was extinguished within 40 minutes. 14 people died in the incident. Elevator Betty Lou Oliver survived a fall from 75 floors in an elevator, an achievement included in the Guinness Book of World Records.

There were fires after that too. So, in August 1988, a fire started on the 86th floor, and the fire reached the very top of the skyscraper. Fortunately, there were no casualties then. In 1990, there was another fire that claimed the lives of 38 people.

There were also incidents of a different kind. In February 1997, 69-year-old Palestinian Ali Hassan Abu Kamal climbed to the observation deck, pulled out a pistol and opened fire on tourists. He killed one person, wounded six, and then shot himself. When the site reopened two days later, visitors were already being probed with magnetometers.

Since its construction, the Empire State Building has attracted people who want to commit suicide. Over the entire period of operation of the building, more than 30 suicides were committed here. The first suicide occurred immediately after construction was completed by a recently laid off worker. As a result, in 1947, a fence had to be erected around the observation site, since in just three weeks there were five suicide attempts there. At the same time, funny things happened: in 1979, Miss Elvita Adams decided to take her own life and jumped from the 86th floor. But a strong wind threw her to the 85th floor, and she escaped with only a broken hip.

The material was prepared based on information from open sources

The Empire State Building is one of the first and legendary skyscrapers in New York that has become its symbols. It was called the eighth wonder of the world, and until 1972 it proudly bore the title of the tallest building in the world. The history of construction is rich in Interesting Facts, both amazing and sad.

Building architecture

The development of the project, which took only 2 weeks, was carried out by a group of architects from the firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. In the design of the building, they successfully combined the mood of the public during the Great Depression and new requirements for urban development.

The skyscraper has stepped shape, tapers upward. This is one of the requirements of the Urban Zoning Act (1916). The narrowing of the upper floors was supposed to provide good street lighting.

The facades are devoid of any decoration and are as simplified as possible, but the building is undoubtedly attributed to the Art Deco style. An important role in this is played by a set of materials - chromed steel, plastic and glass. A new and bold combination for that period of time.

Construction of a New York skyscraper

In January 1930, construction began on the Empire State Building in New York. On preparatory stage They dug a pit, installed utilities and erected a foundation. In March of the same year, construction of the main part began.

All work was based on the conveyor principle. This is especially clearly demonstrated by the fact that the steel frame parts were installed 8 hours after they were manufactured at the factory.

Coal furnaces were installed directly at the construction site, in which rivets for the frame beams were heated. By the way, it was assembled to the 86th floor in six months. In parallel with the assembly of the steel frame, plumbers and electricians worked inside the building, laying utility lines.

Empire State Building - numbers and facts

The famous New York skyscraper amazes not only with its scale, but also with some facts that not everyone knows about.

Empire State Building in numbers

Some figures provided by statistics and historical chronicles make us look at the Empire State Building with different eyes:

• the construction required 10,000,000 bricks, 60,000 tons of steel elements, 6,500 window structures, about 700 km of electrical cables;
• the spire is struck by about 100 lightning strikes per year;
• the height at the end of construction was 381 m, but after the installation of the television tower it increased to 443 m;
• total weight of the building - 365,000 tons;
• about 3,000 people constantly worked at the construction site;
• the construction of the skyscraper took a record 410 days;
• the building has 103 floors, connected by 73 elevators;
• the observation decks of the Empire State Building were visited by 110,000,000 people;
• about 30,000 people work in the offices of the skyscraper;
• the cost of the building at the time of completion was $41,000,000, and in 2014 it was valued at $629,000,000.

There were also some sad statistics. According to official data, 5 people died during construction.

The Empire State Building in New York is memorable not only for its height and architecture, but also for several interesting facts about its “biography”.

1. The name is one of the most famous skyscrapers The USA received due to the unofficial name of New York - Empire State or “Imperial State”.
2. It was possible to rent out all the offices of the tower only a decade after construction.
3. At the highest point they planned to install a spire for mooring airships. In practice, this turned out to be impracticable due to strong vortex air flows at altitude.
4. Every year on February 5, a running competition is held in the skyscraper. The winner is declared the one who achieves the record a short time climbs 1576 steps.
5. Since the building contains a huge number of offices, it has your postal code - 10118.
6. The main load is borne not by the foundation, but by the steel frame. This allows you to significantly reduce the weight of the structure.
7. The Empire State Building has become the hero of several films. The most famous of them is King Kong (1933).
8. A magnificent panorama opens from the observation deck. You can see the surrounding area at a distance of 128 km.

Wide known fact is that for the construction of the high-rise, installers from the Mohawk tribe were attracted, who were not afraid of heights.

New York skyscraper illuminated

Several decades after its construction, the Empire State Building became a symbol of the American dream and gained the special love of US citizens. It aroused a new wave of interest and sympathy in 1964, when the upper part of the building was equipped with floodlights. They illuminated the TV tower and the top floors on holidays or other significant dates. The system still works today.

Each holiday and event corresponds a specific backlight color scheme. So, after the death of F. Sinatra, these were blue lights, on the anniversary of the Queen of Great Britain - purple and gold. After the destruction of the World Trade Center, the tower was illuminated in red, white and blue colors. During the US Open (tennis) tournament, yellow is the dominant color.

On some memorable dates, the backlight is turned off completely for a short time.

Interesting fact! In 2012, 10 floodlights were replaced with 1,200 LEDs. They provide a wide range of illumination colors and are fully computer controlled. There are now about 16 million colors available to illuminate the top of a skyscraper.

On the official website of the Empire Building you can always find out the current color of the lighting, as well as what it was like yesterday and what it will be like on the next significant date.

Incidents at the Empire State Building

In July 1945, an American bomber crashed into the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors. The blow was so strong that he the engine flew right through the building. The skyscraper itself did not receive any particular damage. Most offices opened the next day without any problems. The collision claimed 14 lives.

The Empire State Building is, first of all, a huge office center, and also one of the most attractive tourist sites in the city. The skyscraper is considered the second largest office building in the country, second only to the US military department - the Pentagon. 85 floors of the Empire State Building are occupied by offices, where 21 thousand employees work daily, and observation decks are located on two of its floors.

The designers planned to use the long spire of the skyscraper as a mooring mast for mooring airships. But later this idea was abandoned because strong winds almost always blow at the level of the spire. In addition, the architects had little idea of ​​the peculiarities of aeronautics on airships. The drawings depicted passengers emerging onto the Empire State Building spire from the nose of the aircraft, when in reality the loading and unloading would take place in a gondola located under the airship. So the designers’ idea could not be realized in principle.

Back in December 1931, just six months after construction was completed, an antenna was installed on the spire of the building, with the help of which NBC conducted the first transmission of a television signal as an experiment. And 10 years later, the era of commercial television broadcasting began. Today, the high-rise Empire State Building houses transmitters for almost all television channels and radio stations in the city.

History of construction

The first half of the last century took place in New York under the motto “Who will be able to build the tallest skyscraper?” Since 1913, the palm belonged to the Woolvault Building for 27 years. This building had 57 floors and reached a height of 241 m. Then the 70-story Trump Building, located at 40 Wall Street, became the leader. It rose into the sky at 282.5 m. This record did not last long - only two months. The next favorite was the Chrysler Building. The height of this skyscraper with a long spire already reached 320 m.

Stages of construction of the Empire State Building

The designers of the new high-rise building faced a difficult task. They needed to create more than just a new champion. They wanted to erect a building that would become a real legend.

The design work was led by architect William Lamb, who at that time already had experience in designing the Reynolds Building and the Carew Tower. The famous financier and businessman John Raskob, as well as Pierre DuPont, who was simultaneously one of the leaders of the largest chemical concert in America, DuPont, and the automotive giant General Motors, undertook to invest in large-scale construction.

The location for the new record-breaking skyscraper was chosen at the intersection of West 34th Street and Fifth Avenue. At that time, there was an old Waldorf-Astoria hotel there. It consisted of two buildings, which were connected by a wide hall. Both buildings were erected in the 90s of the 19th century according to the design of New York architect Henry J. Hardenberg. And this hotel was owned by Esther's family.

When the decision was made to build a huge skyscraper, construction began on a new building for the hotel on Fifth Avenue. At the end of autumn 1929, the old hotel began to be demolished, and more than 16 thousand truckloads of broken bricks and stone fragments were removed from here.

Famous footage from the construction of the Empire State Building
Skyscraper in September 1930

The main construction began on March 17, 1930, St. Patrick's Day, and began with excavation work and the laying of a huge foundation. Then, in record time - from the beginning of April to the end of November - a frame was erected from steel beams. The skyscraper was recognized as the tallest building in the world back in September 1930, when builders completed the installation of the 85th floor of the frame.

The construction was huge - 3,439 people took part in it, most of whom were emigrants who had recently arrived on American soil. Mohawk Indians were used in high-altitude work, since these natural climbers were considered excellent installers and were not at all afraid of heights.

This feature has been explained in different ways. Some believed that the Mohawks had a vestibular apparatus developed from birth, because their women constantly carried babies with them, swaddling their children in special cradles. Others argued that when hunting, the Indians were accustomed to placing their feet one after the other on narrow trails, and it was easier for them to stay on narrow metal structures. Another version said that Mohawk warriors perceived heights as a challenge and courageously dealt with the difficulties that arose to achieve victory. In any case, the fact remains that members of this Indian tribe took part in all high-rise construction projects in Canada and the United States and coped with complex high-rise work better than other workers.

During the week, the Empire State Building grew by an average of 4.5 floors. Once a record was set: workers built 14.5 floors in just 10 days. To ensure that construction workers did not stray far from their jobs during lunch breaks, food for them (hot lunches, sandwiches, drinks and ice cream) was served on five levels of the building at once.

View of New York City on the opening day of the Empire State Building (1931) An unsuccessful attempt to dock an airship with the spire of the Empire State Building in 1952

In addition, quick construction was made possible thanks to the simplicity of the design, the components of which were convenient to deliver and lift to the top. Pittsburgh became the supplier of steel structures for this skyscraper. And the logistics were so streamlined that beams were often attached to the frame, which metallurgical plant produced just three days earlier.

However, such a large-scale construction, unfortunately, was not without casualties. According to official statistics, five workers died during the construction of the skyscraper. The duration of construction work and the costs for it broke all records. The high-rise building was built in just one year and 45 days - until May 1, 1931. It cost 24.7 million dollars instead of the planned 43. Such a low cost was due to the fall in prices during the Great Depression.

On the day of the official opening of the Empire State Building, President Herbert Hoover solemnly turned on the lights in the new skyscraper and did it right from the White House. And all the architects who participated in the design were awarded various honorary awards.

However, the Great Depression was still ongoing, and it was only possible to return the funds spent on the construction of a new skyscraper by 1948. All this time, an important source of income was the observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, which was visited annually by up to 3.5 million people. Most of the office space remained unoccupied for a long time, so the townspeople initially called the new skyscraper Empty.

View of the tower from the street of New York

Architectural features

In the early 30s of the last century, the Empire State Building, built, became not only the tallest building in the world, but also the first skyscraper with over 100 floors. Its wide base is 60 m by 124.5 m. With free ledges, this 102-story building rises to a height of 381 m. And the spire, framed by wing-shaped ribs, increases it to 443 meters.

The Empire State Building's record stood for more than 30 years. It was not until 1972, when the World Trade Center was built in the city, that the Fifth Avenue high-rise took second place. But when the twin towers were destroyed after the terrorist attack in September 2001, the old skyscraper again received the status of the tallest building in the city.

The area of ​​the Empire State Building exceeds 250,000 square meters. m. There are 6.4 thousand windows on the longitudinally striped facades of the skyscraper, and the total area of ​​the glazed surface is close to two hectares.

Like many high-rise buildings of that time, the skyscraper was built in the Art Deco style. This eclectic style, which absorbed the features of neoclassicism and modernism, was born in the 20s of the last century. It was very popular all over the world in the 1930s and 1940s and was reflected not only in architecture, but also in painting, fashion, car design, household items and interiors.

The exterior of the Empire State Building's brick walls are lined with Salem limestone, which was supplied from Indiana. It is good for its monotony and texture resembles the surface of bread. And the recesses in the interfloor spaces were lined with darker-colored finishing stone. The peculiarity of the finishing was that the stone was fixed without additional corners or supports, directly to the beams of the steel frame. And the joints between the stone slabs and the windows were skillfully covered with chrome-plated steel strips.

Interior of the Empire State Building

Entrance lobby to the Empire State Building

The high-rise building's entrance lobby is decorated in rich purple and gray Germanic marble. The large panel installed here features a bas-relief made of aluminum, where you can see the shining sun and the silhouette of the Empire State Building.

Corridor on the 80th floor

The internal layout was determined more by a fixed budget and short construction time than by any architectural delights, therefore, in the created premises, the installations created in the project were strictly maintained - no more than 8.53 m from windows to corridors. These dimensions were necessary to ensure the required level of lighting in all offices.

To ensure that employees and visitors can climb to any floor of the building, it has 73 high-speed elevators, which can take you to the 80th floor within one minute. Those who want to climb to the top floor on foot will have to climb 1,860 steps.

The location of the elevators and the fixed dimensions of the office spaces determined the entire configuration of the Empire State Building and the arrangement of its ledges. The size of floors decreases with height, and the number of elevators also decreases. Thus, the tallest building in the city turned out to be very functional.

tourist attraction

Observation deck at the top of the Empire State Building

The silhouette of the skyscraper is clearly recognizable. It has become a real “crown” and decoration of New York. The designers of the Empire State Building created a structure that, like the Gothic cathedrals of the Middle Ages, dominates the entire city. From Fifth Avenue, the entrance to the building is “guarded” by sculptures of eagles. This skyscraper is so popular in the USA that numerous souvenirs with its image can be bought everywhere.

On the 86th and 102nd floors of the Empire State Building, two large observation decks are specially equipped for tourists. The upper platform is smaller and does not have a full view.

Observation deck on the 102nd floor

The observation deck on the 86th floor is attractive because it has a full 360° panorama. You can climb it on foot, overcoming a staircase of more than 1.5 thousand steps, or by elevator. From here you can see the city streets and skyscrapers of Manhattan, the Brooklyn Bridge, green islands of parks and the strait. Good view You can see the city from the site both when the sun is shining and at night. Conveniently, all the sights that can be seen from above are marked on a diagram placed on the observation deck.

In addition, on the second floor of the Empire State Building, a special tourist attraction has been created that simulates a flight over the city - “New York Skyride”. This simulator is very popular among visitors to New York and especially those traveling with children. For a 25-minute “flight” you need to pay $52. The entrance to the attraction is located on 33rd Street and is open from 8.00 to 22.00 all year round.

Views from observation decks

In 1964, during the World's Fair, spotlights were installed on the Empire State Building skyscraper, illuminating its upper part with white light. After 12 years, the decorative lighting was made colored. And today, on the days of major holidays and memorable dates The building is illuminated in different ways: red, orange and yellow on Thanksgiving Day, white and blue on Presidents' Day, and green on St. Patrick's Day. On Valentine's Day, the top of the skyscraper turns red, pink and white. And about 50 couples annually get married in the high-rise building.

Empire State Building Tickets

1. Before visiting the famous high-rise building in New York, you should take care of tickets in advance. The easiest way to buy them is on the official website of the Empire State Building: www.esbnyc.com. Tickets to the 86th floor observation deck for adults will cost $32, for those over 62 years old - $29, and for children from 6 to 12 years old - $26. Tickets to both observation decks (86th and 102nd floor) for everyone visitors over 6 years old cost $85. You will have to pay extra for the opportunity to skip the lines. It is noteworthy that tickets are valid for a year from the date of purchase, and they are not difficult to print.

Red illumination of a skyscraper

In addition, you can purchase a City Pass from travel agencies. This is a tour of New York with the right to visit six of the city's main attractions. In this case, a visit to the Empire State Building is possible at a reduced price.

On the Internet you can find many companies offering to visit the famous skyscraper. However, they do not sell tickets, but vouchers. And you will have to spend time to then exchange these vouchers for real tickets.

Empire State Building Observation Deck

2. No need to take anything extra with you. There are no lockers at the entrance to the Empire State Building. And during a mandatory check, security will not allow bulky bags, suitcases, drinks, water, or even large camera tripods to be brought into the building.

3. It would be a good idea to stock up on a few 50-cent coins in advance. They will be needed to use the binoculars located on observation platforms.

Observation deck on the 86th floor

4. The observation deck on the 86th floor is open to all winds, so you should take care of appropriate clothing and hats.

5. The skyscraper opens to visitors at 8 am and closes at 2 am. In the mornings the queue is much shorter. And on holidays and weekends there are so many people that it’s better not to plan a visit here.

Remains of a bomber on the facade of a skyscraper

• Americans often call the state of New York the Empire State, which is why the tallest skyscraper in the city is called the “Imperial State Building.”
• The Empire State Building is so huge that the country's postal department assigned it its own zip code - 10118.
• 55,000 tons of steel, 10 million bricks, 200 thousand cubic meters were spent on the construction of the high-rise building. feet of stone, 2 million feet of electrical wire and 1,17 thousand miles of elevator cables. The marble floor in the Empire State Building covers an area of ​​30,000 square meters. m. The skyscraper itself weighs about 331,000 tons.
• The strength of the Empire State Building was tested by tragic events. In late July 1945, a B-25 Mitchell military plane crashed into it between the 79th and 80th floors. This happened because, in conditions of heavy fog and low visibility, the aircraft commander, Lieutenant Colonel William Smith (Jr.), lost control. The impact was so strong that one of the bomber's engines flew right through the entire building. As a result of this tragedy, 14 people died and 26 people were injured in various ways. However, the building itself suffered little damage. The outer walls were damaged and a fire broke out inside, which was extinguished after just 40 minutes. All consequences were eliminated very quickly, and the very next day the offices worked as usual.
• The famous high-rise building became famous thanks to the film about King Kong. It was from this Empire State Building that he fell, shot by police helicopters. Many suicides have tried to commit suicide by jumping from a high-rise building, so security guards are now constantly on duty at the observation decks, and a metal canopy has been installed over the sidewalk to protect pedestrians.
King Kong on top of the Empire State Building. Still from the 1933 film

How to get there

The Empire State Building skyscraper stands in the central part of Manhattan. Take the N, Q, P subway lines to the 34th Street/Herald Square station. If you use ground public transport, you can get to the skyscraper by buses M4, M10, M16 and M34.