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Triumphant on 34th avenue, between 5th and 6th ave, theEmpire State Building attracts all eyes. It’s always a pleasure to visit this iconic New York skyscraper and get drunk on the city by overlooking its buildings. Construction of the 443-meter-high building began at the end of 1929 and was completed in 1931. Today, a new exhibition highlights the gigantism of the project at the time. Visit !
The 2nd floor celebrates the architectural prowess of the Empire State Building
- The exhibition on the 2nd floor tells you about the construction of the famous building. You will learn that the work was carried out in just 18 months, on the site of the former Waldorf-Astoria hotel. The building opened on May 1, 1931, 45 days ahead of schedule. Imagine the amazement of the public at the time at this technical feat.
- It is thanks to the infallible organization of the Starret brothers and the chief engineer Homer Balcom that the bet was brilliantly met! It took no less than 3,500 workers, often of Irish and Italian descent, and 7 million man hours to complete the construction of the Empire State Building. The standardization and organization of each task explains the speed of its construction. At the height of 1930, one floor was completed per day!
- The exhibition on the 2nd floor will immerse you in the heart of the work … You can see young workers working to assemble rivets and metal bars, several hundred meters above the void. Take the opportunity to take a short break with them on a bench during an immersive experience. No more rushing to the 86th floor for the view. Here you are at the heart of the action, alongside these craftsmen who did not know vertigo. Numerous archival black and white photographs illustrate the reception of the public during the presentation of this typical art deco structure.
- The collective imagination will be built as films like King Kong. Do not miss the room with the famous gorilla… Do not hesitate to throw yourself on King King’s hands and pose as Fay Wray, the heroine of the film. Perfect to fund your account Instagram !
2nd floor reveals famous occupants and visitors to the Empire State Building
- In 1931, the building’s occupancy rate was much lower than expected by Al Smith, the person responsible for the construction and development of the Empire State Building. Two years after the stock market crash of 1929, few companies had the means to set up in these gleaming premises. Thus was born the mocking nickname “Empty State Building”. Only 20 tenants had taken possession of the premises when the building was inaugurated. At a time when the building complex of Rockefeller Center also offered offices, the promoters of the Empire State Building had an idea… luminous: to leave the lights on night and day to give a false impression of occupation.
- Since then, the Empire State Building has taken the lead role in numerous films embodying the essence of New York City. A room filled with screens presents excerpts from such classics as Her and him, James and the big peach or Spiderman.
- Today the building is occupied by large companies such as Linkedin, Expedia, JCDecaux, Coty and Shutterstock, as well as the humanitarian association Human Rights Watch. The layout of their offices is modern with open spaces, plants and works of art. To see it, place your eye against the blinders! Through these mouse holes, you will be able to see what all these desks look like. This is one of the novelties of the 2nd floor! You will also have the opportunity to recognize your favorite stars photographed on the 86th floor.
The 80th floor: the preliminary of the outdoor observatory
- The 80th floor of the Empire State Building now presents itself as a mini observatory in itself. There you will have a prelude to the view that awaits you on the 86th floor behind glass windows. Admire the incredible reproduction of the skyline by artist Stephen Wiltshire.
- Then head to the observation platform on the 86th floor. Here you are 320 meters above the ground! For many New Yorkers, visiting the Empire State Building Observatory was a must in 1931. And the skyscraper was long the tallest building in New York City.
- Prior to 1931, the title of tallest building in New York was held by the Chrysler Building. At the time, the Chrysler had hit the headlines by hiding the construction of its antenna in order to grab the title of the tallest building in New York at 40 Wall Street (today the Trump Building that can be seen during the visit Sud de manhattan). It was not until 1971 that the tour South of the World Trade Center dethrones the Observatory of the Empire, from the top of its 107th floor to more than 400 meters above the ground.
- With all this new stuff, and this interactive and informative exhibit, here’s enough to spend twice as much time in the Empire State Building. An even more legendary visit!
The video exhibition
To book your tickets at Empire State Builing
- To buy your entry tickets, in French and in euros, go to the link to the Empire State Building tickets.
- To save money, note that entry to the Empire State Building is included in the New York City Pass, the New York Explorer Pass, the Go New York Pass and the New York Pass. These pass have the advantage of allowing you not to go through the ticket office and to skip a step in the line by going directly to the entrance of the exhibition. Convenient to save time! Little more to know: the New York City Pass even lets you ride twice in the same day, to see the day view AND the night view. A much appreciated exclusivity!
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