Ever take time and wonder about one of the most iconic buildings in America, maybe even the world? Probably not, but that’s why I’m here to tell you about it.
Today, 95 years ago, President Herbert Hoover turned on the lights from Washington, D.C. to New York City, for the world’s tallest building on May 1, 1931.
Standing at 1,250ft tall (1,454 ft including the antenna), the Empire State Building held the title of the world’s tallest building for 40 years, until the North Tower of the WTC (World Trade Center) was completed in 1972.
Just 13 months after the stock market crash in 1929, leading into the great depression, the Empire State Building was finished, creating resilience & optimism among people during the financial crisis.
Although a marvel of architecture and engineering with its gorgeous Art Deco style of the 1930’s, due to the extreme unemployment at the time, the building was frequently called “The Empty State Building,” and the city would even keep its empty offices lights on for the illusion of occupancy. Despite the depression, the top floor observation deck, which offered an overhead city view, allowed around $1 million annually, making the tower a major tourist attraction to stay afloat. As World War II started, the economy was once again fueled, making the tower profitable after being considered a financial slump.
What about some interesting history around the building?
Well, it’s not often spoken about the time an air force pilot accidentally crashed a B-25 military bomber between the 78th & 80th floors, killing 14 people–July 28th, 1945. It’s recorded as the highest fire ever, and it was extinguished in just 40 minutes. After $1 million in damage, the building reopened shortly after. This incident eventually allowed for an act that permits citizens to sue the government!
Did you know that over 250 films have featured the Empire State Building? One of the most famous being King Kong (1933) and its 2005 remake, where the giant gorilla hangs off the top of the building.
The Empire State is in the top three most photographed buildings ever, with more than 3 million posts on Instagram; It’s also one of the most popular Uber destinations with 75+ million rides as of 2018.
This year’s anniversary will have a light-up show tonight featuring fun colors and spring themes, and it will be streamed nationwide across various channels. So if you wanna celebrate the iconic building’s 95th birthday, turn on your TVs tonight or even visit NYC yourself!
