Empire State Building

History  

The Waldorf Astoria, another New York institution, was originally located on the property where the Empire State Building stands today. The property was bought in 1928 for $20 million. The hotel was demolished, and a new building project began in 1930. Construction progressed at a break-neck pace, rising 4.5 stories a week. The entire building was completed in one year and 45 days. The building officially opened in 1931 with over 100 stories and measured 1,454 feet. The Empire State Building was and is a wonder to look at. It features an Art Decor design with gold and aluminum accents that simply gleam. When it opened, it cost ten cents to go up to the observation deck.  

Over the decades, the Empire State Building has gained notoriety. In 1933, Hollywood came knocking with the movie King Kong. It features a larger-than-life gorilla climbing the building. In 1976, it celebrated its 50 millionth visitor. Today, millions of people visit the building each year.  

In 2009, the building started showing its age with extensive wear and tear. About $65 million was spent to repair, renovate, and revitalize the building. The finished project was unveiled in 2019.  

Observation Floors  

There are two observation floors that you can purchase tickets for. The first is the 86th floor. The second is the 102 floor. There are regular, express, and VIP tickets available. The higher-level tickets can help you bypass many of the lines, making your visit faster.  

The 86th floor is an outdoor viewing deck that wraps around the building. This lets you walk around the entire building for a 360-degree view of New York. In addition, there are telescopes to help you see even further.  

The 102nd viewing deck is enclosed with glass. You will take a glass elevator up from the 86th floor. It offers the same 360-degree viewing with floor-to-ceiling windows.  

The Sights From the Top  

Because you are up so high, you can see up to 80 miles away on a clear day. As you walk around the observation deck, you can see many of New York City’s most famous landmarks. These include Central Park, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty, Rockefeller Center, and One World Trade Center. You can also see five nearby states, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 

Building Lights  

Lighting was added to the building as part of its renovation and updating. Each night, these lights illuminate the building’s facade. There are 16 million possible colors that can change instantaneously. The building staff gets to pick the color each night. However, they often reflect relevant holidays, important events, and cultural happenings.  

Restaurants  

There are several food and drink options within the Empire State Building. For a restaurant experience, there is the State Grill & Bar and Tacombi. If you want something a little quicker, you can choose Chopt, Chipotle, Sushi-teria, and Juice Press.  

How To Visit  

To visit the Empire State Building, you can drive, walk, take the subway, or join a tour. The entrance to the observatory is on 34th Street. The other entrances are private and not open to the public. While you can purchase tickets at the building, you will have to wait in line. Lines also tend to occur at the security checkpoint and the elevator, so plan for this in your schedule. There is no timeline for your time spent on the observation deck. Buying them online in advance allows you to skip this process. The building is open 365 days a year from 10 am to 11 pm.  


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