The Empire State Building is cemented in both New York and U.S. History.  Built during the Depression, the building was the center of a competition between Walter Chrysler (Chrysler Corp.) and John Jakob Raskob (creator of General Motors) to see who could build the tallest building.  Construction began on March 17, 1930, under President FDR, and it wasn’t completed until 410 days later.  There are 2 observation decks on top and, from either vantage point, there is no view more spectacular. It truly is quite awe-inspiring.  There are many wonderful facts about this famous historical landmark which truly put this wonder into perspective:

• Total Construction Time:   410 days (ahead of schedule)
• Total Man-Hours:   7,000,000
• Total Cost:   $41,000,000 (including land)
• Land Coverage at Ground:   About 2 Acres
• Total Height from Street Level to Top:  1454 Feet
• Total number of Floors:  103
• Number of Steps from Ground to Top:  1860
• Number of windows:   6500
• Number of Entrances at Ground:   5
• Elevators:  73    Escalators:  8
• Water:  70 miles of pipes   Electricity:  2.5 million miles supplying 40 million kw hours/year

In 1945 at the end of World War II, an Army Air Corps B-25 twin-engine bomber plane crashed into the 79th floor of the building in dense fog.

The building's dirigible mast (now the base of the TV tower) was originally designed as a mooring mast for Air blimps (unfortunately because of several unsuccessful attempts and the volatile wind conditions at 1,350 feet, the idea was ultimately abandoned).

The tragedy of 9/11 and the ultimate collapse of the Twin Towers have restored the Empire State Building as the tallest building in New York.