“The Fascinating History and Iconic Legacy of the Empire State Building, from King Kong to Herbert Hoover’s Inauguration”

He Empire State It held the crown of the tallest building in the world for more than 40 years, until the Twin Towers were inaugurated in 1973. Today it is not even the tallest skyscraper in NYwhere the One World Trade Center with its 541 meters, but it remains one of the most iconic and recognized in the world.

Much of his fame is due to the premiere of the first film of King Kongpremiered on March 7, 1933. That is why in the Empire State there is a special room dedicated exclusively to the most famous gorilla in Hollywood.

The day the Empire State Building was inaugurated

He Chrysler Building, located on Lexington Avenue in New York, opened in 1930 and, by then, was the tallest in the world, thus demonstrating the relevance of the automotive company. However, that record barely lasted 11 months, since John Jakob Raskob, founder of General Motorscommissioned architect William F. Lamb to build an even larger skyscraper.

That way, The Empire State Building began on March 17, 1930. at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and 35th Street. After 410 days, the building had its official presentation on May 1, 1931. The inauguration was in charge of the then president of the United States, Herbert Hooverwho flipped a switch from the White House to turn on the lights.

The total investment was 41 million dollars, while around 3,500 workers were needed. In the 102 floors of the construction, 10 million bricks, 60,000 tons of steel and 6,5000 windows were used. Initially, it had a height of 381 meters, while in 1953 it reached 443.2 metersafter the reform in which a broadcast tower and an antenna were installed.

Also read: One World Trade Center: the tallest skyscraper in the US, a symbol of resilience after the horror of September 11, 2001

Since then, there were no new mods that changed the height, although certain changes were made. In 1964, for example, spotlights were placed in the dome of the façade. In addition, they added in 2012 a LED lighting system to illuminate the upper floors in different colors, depending on the political event, the festive date or the tribute in question.

In addition, in 2011 they were awarded the LEED-Gold awarded by the US Building Council for the 550 million dollars invested to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

Empire State: the fame behind King Kong

He Empire State not only owes his fame to his great height and the records achieved, but also to King Kong, the most famous gorilla in Hollywood. It is that the huge monster from the 1933 film of the same name had its legendary and most remembered scene in the New York skyscraper, which it climbed with the actress Ann Darrow. There he is attacked by Navy planes, until they manage to make him fall lifeless.

In a museum that it has on its second floor, the Empire State building dedicated a special room to King Kong. It is a room where the two huge hands of the gorilla go through the walls. Meanwhile, the windows were replaced by screens that show the animal from the outside. The place is visited daily by several tourists, who are photographed between King Kong’s giant fingers.

Also read: 111 West 57th Street is the world’s thinnest skyscraper