The Empire State Building, a majestic and iconic structure in the New York City skyline, opened on May 1, 1931, just 14 months after construction began. President Herbert Hoover illuminated the 102-story tower from Washington, D.C. The building stood at 1,250 feet, reaching 1,454 feet with its antenna, and held the title of tallest building in the world for 40 years. Constructed on the site of the former Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, the Empire State Building rose rapidly with as many as 3,400 workers at the site each day, completing up to 4½ floors per week at its peak. F. Scott Fitzgerald captured the awe of the building’s construction in his writing.
The sheer magnitude of the construction of the Empire State Building is impressive, with 10 million bricks, 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone, 6,400 windows, and 37 million cubic feet of space used in its creation. The idea for the building came about during the Great Depression, with former New York Governor Alfred E. Smith and General Motors executive John Jakob Raskob forming Empire State Inc. to build the world’s tallest skyscraper. Despite the tumultuous economic climate, construction on the Empire State Building continued at a record pace.
The site of the Empire State Building, the former Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, held historical significance as the site of two mansions owned by the Astor family and a campsite for George Washington’s Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Architect William F. Lamb, who designed the building, missed its opening ceremony as he sailed to Europe. Lamb’s vision of the building as a gorgeous combination of steel, glass, and limestone came to life, creating a lasting symbol of American progress and achievement.
The Empire State Building has been lauded for its art deco design, although Lamb and his wife did not consider it as such. After losing its status as the world’s tallest building to the World Trade Center in 1971, the Empire State Building has continued to be a beloved landmark and symbol of New York City. It remains a popular tourist attraction, welcoming millions of visitors each year and was named the No. 1 attraction in the United States in a recent survey. The building’s enduring legacy as a global symbol of aspiration and accomplishment continues to capture the imagination of people around the world.
