History and Facts

- Built during the Great Depression

- Was built because of a competition between Walter Chrysler and John Jakob Raskob to see who could build the tallest building

- An average of four and a half floors were built a week.

- Art deco skyscraper that was designed from the top down

- The building did not become profitable until the 1950s because of the Great Depression.

- Was the world's tallest building until 1972

- Named one of Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers

- Third tallest skyscraper in America

- The construction drawings for the building were produced in just two weeks.

- Many of the construction workers were immigrants, and five died during construction.

- Most of the city's broadcast stations transmit from the top of the Empire State Building.

- Floodlights were added to illuminate the top of the building.

- The building officially opened on May 1st, 1931.

- The foundation reaches far underground to support the Empire State Building.

- Is a National Historic Landmark

- Houses over 1,000 businesses and had its own zip code