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Empire State Building
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| Along with the
Statue of Liberty, The Empire State
Building is New York's most famous landmark. Its 86th floor observatory
remains a hugely popular vantage point for throngs of tourists to view
Manhattan.
Located at 350 Fifth Avenue, between 33rd and 34th Streets, the
Empire State Building was planned during the booming 1920's,
and constructed during the Great Depression. Due to this unfortunate
timing, It stood largely vacant in its early years,
and gained the
nickname of the "Empty State Building".
It had to rely
on the stream of sightseers to the observation decks to help pay its
taxes. Excavation of the site began on January
22, 1930, and construction on the building itself started on March
17th. The project was hurried to completion in order to take the
title of "world's tallest building" from the
Chrysler Building. |
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The
Empire State Building was constructed using the most up to date
technology of the time, with a substantial concrete foundation on which
was assembled a framework of steel sections. Designed by architects, Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Associates
and constructed by builders, Starrett Brothers and Eken. The steel
sections were manufactured off site, then transported into position for
assembly. Once assembled, the building was given an outer layer of
stone. On completion, the Empire State Building became the worlds
tallest
man made structure, a claim to fame that it would hold for the next
23 years, after which it remained the worlds tallest skyscraper for the
next 18 years. On the 1st of May 1931, the Empire State Building was officially opened
by the then President of the United States, Herbert Hoover. while
remaining in Washington D.C. he pushed a button which turned on the lights
throughout the building.
Originally constructed with 64 elevators, this number
has been increased to 73 to ease the distribution of people. Since the
disaster of World Trade Centre, the Empire State
Building again became the tallest building in New York. |
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| Enter the Empire State Building and you will find yourself in
the three story Art Deco lobby. Lined with marble imported from
Europe, it has as its centrepiece a large mosaic featuring the
building as the centre of the universe. |
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| On the 86th floor is an open air observatory with incredible
views. To the north can be seen the Chrysler and MetLife Buildings,
and on a clear day you can see as far as the states of Connecticut
and Massachusetts. To the west past the World War II aircraft
carrier Intrepid you can see across the Hudson to New Jersey.
Looking south over the Flatiron Building to the elegant
Woolworth
Building, onto the soaring Wall Street structures. To the right in
upper New York bay stands the Statue
of Liberty and close by Ellis Island.
Eastward lies the Borough of Queens and the CitiCorp building. |
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New
York City Guide
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