EMPIRE STATE BUILDING NYC

 

350 5^th Avenue at 34^th Street
(212) 736-3100

The Empire State Building is one of the most recognizable structures in the world. An U.S. National Historic Landmark, it’s been a symbol of New York ever since construction was completed in 1931. Designed in the Art Deco style that was popular at that time, the Empire State has been a favorite subject for both photographers and movie makers who saw fit to make it the background for romance (An Affair to Remember) or the death of a gargantuan ape (King Kong).

The Empire State Building rises 1,454 feet (1,453 feet, 8 9/16^th inches to be exact) above the heart of Manhattan, making it one of the best spots to view the city. You can’t say you’ve seen New York until you’ve seen it from one of the Empire State Building’s two observation decks located on the 86^th and 102^nd floor. The Observation decks are open 365 days a year and have entertained over 117 million people.

One of the most notable features of the Empire State Building is it’s top portion. Besides housing a TV transmitter that reaches over 8 million homes, the top 30 floors of the Empire State Building will often be illuminated at night with seasonal colors; red, white and blue for July 4^th, Blue and white for for Hanukkah, red and white for Valentine’s Day, etc.

Today, the Empire State building has more to offer than just a spectacular view. Visitors may now see a multimedia presentation of New York called "The New York Skyride". This presentation starts with a three-minute video introduction from Comedy Central followed by seven-minute motion simulator ride that takes you on a helicopter trip through New York. There are also three restaurants, three coffee shops, several specialty boutiques, a post office and two banks located inside the building.