Midtown Manhattan Landmarks

Empire State Building in Midtown Manhattan

The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper at 350 Fifth Avenue, at 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan. It opened on May 1, 1931, and was the tallest building in the world until the North Tower of the World Trade Center topped out in 1970.

Aerial view of the Empire State Building above Midtown Manhattan in soft evening light — Photo: Daniel Schwen · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Source

Quick facts

Where: 350 Fifth Avenue, Midtown Manhattan (the observatory entrance is at 20 West 34th Street)
Construction: began March 17, 1930; completed April 11, 1931; opened May 1, 1931
Architects: Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, with an initial design by William F. Lamb
Style: Art Deco
Height: 1,250 feet (381 m) to the roof and 1,454 feet (443 m) to the tip of the antenna
Floors: 102 stories
Observation decks: the 86th and 102nd floors, plus an indoor observatory on the 80th floor that opened in 2019
Landmark status: New York City landmark (exterior and lobby interior), listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982, National Historic Landmark since 1986

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History

The Empire State Building was developed by Empire State Inc., a group that included John J. Raskob and Al Smith, and designed by the architecture firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon. Construction began on March 17, 1930. The main structure topped out at 1,048 feet on September 19, 1930, the building was completed on April 11, 1931, and it opened on May 1, 1931. That is just over a year from the first day of construction to completion.

At 1,250 feet to the roof and 1,454 feet to the tip of its antenna, it was the tallest building in the world until the North Tower of the World Trade Center topped out in 1970.

The tower's lighting has changed many times. White searchlights were first used in November 1932 to signal Franklin Roosevelt's election victory. Floodlights were added on the 72nd floor in February 1964, and the lights were switched off from November 1973 to July 1974 during the energy crisis. Since October 12, 1977, the spire has been lit in seasonal and holiday colors. In 2012 about 400 metal-halide lamps and floodlights were replaced with 1,200 LED fixtures.

What to look for

The stepped setbacks that give the tower its Art Deco profile
The mast and spire at the top
The colored lighting at night, which changes for seasons and holidays
The lobby, which is a designated New York City landmark along with the exterior

Visiting Empire State Building

The observation decks are on the 86th and 102nd floors, and the visitor entrance is at 20 West 34th Street. Check the building's official website for hours and tickets before you go. The Flatiron Building is further down Fifth Avenue. To see Midtown by pedicab, see our tours.