The 102-story Empire State Building is the tallest building in New York City, standing at 443 meters (1,454 feet). From its observatory-deck on the 86th floor can be seen some of the best panoramic views of the city. Opened in 1931, the observation deck has been visited by over 110 million visitors, and receives 3.5 million visitors each year
The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates, and despite its incredible height, was built in just 1 year and 45 days, with construction beginning on 17 Mar 1930 and the building officially opened on 1 May 1931. During construction the building rose at an average rate of 4 ½ stories per week. The Empire State Building cost $24,718,000 or $40,948,900 if you include the land it stands on.
The Empire State Building was planned as a financial investment at a time when the city was experiencing a real estate boom. However, the building was constructed during America's great depression and when the building opened there were few tenants willing to occupy, and the building was soon named by New Yorker's as the "Empty State Building"
What saved the building from bankruptcy was the popularity of its observation deck, which riased $2million revenue from visitors in its first year. The observation deck still remains popular with tourists, and is one of the cities 'must do' attractions for first time visitors.
There is also a 102nd floor observatory, closed to the public since 1999 it finally re-opened in Nov 2005. Tickets to visit this observotory cannot be purchased in advance, but only on the day at the Empire State Building.
For those who still wish to see more of the New York Skyline, there is a motion simulator attraction located on the 2nd floor, called NY Skyride which presents a 25 minute simulated aerial tour over New York City.
The Empire State Building has appeared in many movies, the most iconic being the 1933 King Kong movie, in which the giant ape falls to his death from the top of the building.
Opening Hours
Open daily 365 days a year.
8:00am to 2:00am 7 days a week
Last elevators go up at 1:15am.
Prices
Empire State Building's 82nd floor observatory
$19 Adults
NY Skyride
$29.50 Adults (18-61)
Combined Empire State Building & Skyride
$40 Adults (18-61)
The 102nd floor observatory
An additional $15 charge.
Note: Tickets can only be purchased for this observatory on the day of your visit
Address
350 Fifth Ave
(between W.33rd & W.34th Sts.)
New York, NY 10118
Tel: 212-736-3100
How to Get There
The nearest subway is 34th Street
Take the B, D, F, N, Q or R trains to 34th Street
External Links
Offical Empire State Building
NY Skyride
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