Empire State Building dedicated - May 01, 1931 - HISTORY.com Empire State Building dedicated Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1931, President Herbert Hoover officially dedicates New York City’s Empire State Building, pressing a button from the White House that turns on the building’s lights. Hoover’s gesture, of course, was symbolic; while the president remained in Washington, D.C., someone else flicked the switches in New York. The idea for the Empire State Building is said to have been born of a competition between Walter Chrysler of the Chrysler Corporation and John Jakob Raskob of General Motors, to see who could erect the taller building. Chrysler had already begun work on the famous Chrysler Building, the gleaming 1,046-foot skyscraper in midtown Manhattan. Not to be bested, Raskob assembled a group of well-known investors, including former New York Governor Alfred E. Smith. The group chose the architecture firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon Associates to design the building.

The Art-Deco plans, said to have been based in large part on the look of a pencil, were also builder-friendly: The entire building went up in just over a year, under budget (at $40 million) and well ahead of schedule. During certain periods of building, the frame grew an astonishing four-and-a-half stories a week. At the time of its completion, the Empire State Building, at 102 stories and 1,250 feet high (1,454 feet to the top of the lightning rod), was the world’s tallest skyscraper. The Depression-era construction employed as many as 3,400 workers on any single day, most of whom received an excellent pay rate, especially given the economic conditions of the time. The new building imbued New York City with a deep sense of pride, desperately needed in the depths of the Great Depression, when many city residents were unemployed and prospects looked bleak. The grip of the Depression on New York’s economy was still evident a year later, however, when only 25 percent of the Empire State’s offices had been rented.

In 1972, the Empire State Building lost its title as world’s tallest building to New York’s World Trade Center, which itself was the tallest skyscraper for but a year. Today the honor belongs to Dubai’s Burj Khalifa tower, which soars 2,717 feet into the sky. Related Videos Historical Timeline | Empire State Building Audio Tour Historical Timeline 1799: The City of New York sells a virgin tract (now bounded by Broadway and Sixth Avenue on the west, Madison Avenue on the east, 33rd Street on the south and 36th Street on the north) for $2,600 to John Thompson for farming. 1825: Thompson sells the farm to Charles Lawton for $10,000. 1827: William Backhouse Astor, the second son of John Jacob Astor, buys the farm for $20,500 as an investment. 1859: John Jacob Astor, Jr. erects a mansion on the northwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street.

1862: William Backhouse Astor builds his mansion next door at the southwest corner of Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. 1893: William Waldorf Astor, son of John Jacob Astor, Jr., razes his inherited mansion and erects the Waldorf Hotel on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street. 1897: Mrs. William Backhouse Astor razes her mansion at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street and the Astoria Hotel is erected on the site. The new complex is known as the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. 1928: The Waldorf Astoria Hotel is sold to Bethlehem Engineering Corporation for an estimated $20 million. 1929: John Jakob Raskob (former General Motors executive), Coleman du Pont, Pierre S. du Pont, Louis G. Kaufman and Ellis P. Earle, form Empire State, Inc. and name Alfred E. Smith, former Governor of New York to head the corporation. 1930: On March 17, construction of the Empire State Building begins. Under the direction of architects Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates, the framework rises 4 ½ stories per week.

1931: On May 1, President Hoover presses a button in Washington, D.C. officially opening and turning on the Empire State Building’s lights. 1933: The movie King Kong is released in New York City on March 2. 1945: A B-25 Bomber crashes into the 79th floor of ESB during heavy fog on a Saturday morning. The building’s construction limits the spread of fire and despite a 20-foot gash, the Empire State Building is open for business-as-usual on Monday. 1950: ESB gets an antenna tower that is over 200 feet tall. 1951: The John J. Raskob estate sells the building for $34 million to a syndicate including Roger I. Stevens and the Chicago Crown family who immediately sell the building to Prudential Insurance Company of America for $17 million, which then enters into a long-term ground lease with the Stevens syndicate. 1955: The American Society of Civil Engineers selects ESB as one of the seven greatest engineering achievements in America’s history.

1956: As a symbol of welcome and freedom to visitors, four large beacon lights are installed at the foot of the tower known as “The Freedom Lights.” 1961: August 23, Lawrence A. Wien, Peter L. Malkin, and Harry B. Helmsley buy the building for $65 million. The price, which does not include the land, is the highest ever paid for a single building. 1962: A crew of 30 men clean the exterior of ESB for the first time since its opening. It takes about six months to complete the job. 1964: Floodlights replace the beacons, and are installed to illuminate ESB in honor of the New York World’s Fair. 1966: The manually operated high-speed elevators on the first 80 floors of the building are refit for automatic operation. 1973: The tower lights are “shut off” temporarily in November in response to the energy crisis. The tower lights are not turned on again until July 3, 1974. 1976: The Empire State Building Observatory welcomes its 50 millionth visitor.

1976: To honor the United States Bicentennial, ESB installs colored floodlights to illuminate the building at night, lighting up in red, white and blue, leading to today’s very popular Lighting Partners program. 1978: February 15 marks the inaugural Empire State Building Annual Run-Up. 1980: The Empire State Building gets its own zip code: 10118. 1981: On May 18, the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission declares the building a Landmark. 1982: On December 20, the Empire State Building is listed on the State and National Register of Historic Places. 1986: The Empire State Building is recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the National Parks Services, U.S. Department of the Interior and a commemorative plaque is awarded. 1993: 6,514 ESB windows are replaced in the biggest window replacement ever authorized by the Landmarks Preservation Commission, and frames are installed in the building’s original distinctive red. 1994: On February 14, the first Valentine’s Day weddings take place at ESB.

More than 250 couples have exchanged their vows during the event since its inception. The annually televised event is covered by news outlets around the globe. 1999-2000: More than twenty miles of fiber-optics as well as copper cabling is installed during a telecom retrofit of ESB. 2002: Peter L. Malkin and Anthony E. Malkin, the son-in-law and grandson of Lawrence W. Wien led the purchase of the land under the Empire State Building. 2004: The tower lights are dimmed for 15 minutes to mark the death of actress Fay Wray, who starred in the 1933 movie King Kong. 2006: ESB celebrates its 75th anniversary and ownership presents a plan for the Empire State ReBuilding program, including a complete restoration and recreation of ESB’s landmarked, Art Deco masterpiece lobby and the faithful recreation of the original gold and aluminum ceiling. 2007: The Empire State Building is ranked number one on the list of America’s Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects.

2009: President Bill Clinton, Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and Anthony Malkin announced the Empire State Building's groundbreaking energy efficiency retrofit program, making it the global model for retrofitting existing buildings. 2009: September 29, the newly renovated ceiling in the ESB lobby is unveiled. The renovation takes longer to complete than the original construction of the building. 2010: ESB connects with more than 500,000 fans globally through Facebook and Twitter. 2011 Otis Elevator Company is selected for the largest elevator modernization in history with state-of-the-art Compass™ Destination Management and ReGen™ drives. 2011: ESB receives 2011 Green Power Leadership Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2012: The Empire State Building unveiled its new LED lighting system, driven by high speed computers and capable of 16,000,000 different colors. 2012: Monitoring and verification prove ESB’s retrofit project exceeds projected energy savings for the second straight year and reduces costs by millions of dollars.

2013: The Empire State Realty Trust, the parent company of New York's Empire State Building and 17 other buildings, began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol ESRT. The Empire State Building Opens The Empire State Building, January 8, 1934 The Empire State Building Opens May 1, 1931 If you have ever seen the movie "King Kong," you may remember the building that the giant ape climbs. The Empire State Building officially opened on this day in history, May 1, 1931. President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C., and on came the lights in the world's tallest skyscraper. Before that, the Chrysler Building briefly held the record at 1046 feet. Now, the tallest building in the United States is the 110-story Sears Tower in Chicago. page 1 of 2 5 Buildings So Big They Have Their Own ZIP Code! «TwistedSifter Illustration by Denelson83 Last night I was reading the latest issue of Wired (the only physical magazine I still subscribe to) and noticed a fun little data stream they had posted about places with their own ZIP code.

For those outside the United States, ZIP codes are a system of postal codes used by the United States Postal Service (USPS) since 1963. The ZIP codes, an acronym for Zone Improvement Plan, usually represent a sizable geographic area. However, these five particular buildings are so special they have their own ZIP code! Check them out below and enjoy some interesting tidbits I culled from their respective Wikipedia entries :) 1. THE WHITE HOUSE – Its history, and the history of the nation’s capital, began when President George Washington signed an Act of Congress in December of 1790 declaring that the federal government would reside in a district “not exceeding ten miles square…on the river Potomac.” President Washington, together with city planner Pierre L’Enfant, chose the site for the new residence, which is now 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – Construction began when the first cornerstone was laid in October of 1792. Although President Washington oversaw the construction of the house, he never lived in it.

It was not until 1800, when the White House was nearly completed, that its first residents, President John Adams and his wife, Abigail, moved in – Since that time, each President has made his own changes and additions. The White House is, after all, the President’s private home. It is also the only private residence of a head of state that is open to the public, free of charge Photograph by PHC C.M. Fitzpatrick – It survived a fire at the hands of the British in 1814 (during the war of 1812) and another fire in the West Wing in 1929, while Herbert Hoover was President. Throughout much of Harry S. Truman’s presidency, the interior of the house, with the exception of the third floor, was completely gutted and renovated while the Trumans lived at Blair House, right across Pennsylvania Avenue. Nonetheless, the exterior stone walls are those first put in place when the White House was constructed two centuries ago – There are 132 rooms, 35 bathrooms, and 6 levels in the Residence.

There are also 412 doors, 147 windows, 28 fireplaces, 8 staircases, and 3 elevators. – With five full-time chefs, the White House kitchen is able to serve dinner to as many as 140 guests and hors d’oeuvres to more than 1,000. – The White House requires 570 gallons of paint to cover its outside surface. – For recreation, the White House has a variety of facilities available to its residents, including a tennis court, jogging track, swimming pool, movie theater, and bowling lane. – Dodger Stadium has been the home ballpark of Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers team since 1962.

Dodger Stadium was constructed from 1959 to 1962 at a cost of $23 million paid for through private financing – Dodger Stadium is currently the third oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball (behind Fenway Park in Boston and Wrigley Field in Chicago,) and is the largest ballpark by seating capacity Architect: Captain Emil Praeger Left Field – 330 feet (101 m) Medium Left-Center – 360 feet (110 m) True Left-Center – 375 feet (114 m) Center Field – 400 feet (122 m) True Right-Center – 375 feet (114 m) Medium Right-Center – 360 feet (110 m) Right Field – 330 feet (101 m) Backstop – 55 feet (17 m) – In addition to those of Drysdale, Koufax, and Sutton, the retired numbers of Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Tommy Lasorda, Walter Alston, Roy Campanella and Jim Gilliam are mounted below the pavilion roofs behind the outfield fence – Dodger Stadium is the

 only current MLB park (excluding the most recently-built parks) that has never changed its capacity.

It has always held 56,000 fans, due to a conditional-use permit limiting its capacity. Every time the Dodgers add seats, they always remove an equal number of seats in the upper deck or in the pavilion to keep the capacity the same. Through the sale of standing room only tickets, though, the Dodgers’ 2009 home opener managed to draw 57,099 fans, the largest crowd in stadium history Chicago, Illinois 60606 United States – Willis Tower, formerly named Sears Tower, is a 108-story, 1451-foot (442 m) skyscraper in Chicago, Illinois.[1] At the time of its completion in 1974, it was the tallest building in the world, surpassing the World Trade Center towers in New York – Currently, Willis Tower is the tallest building in the United States and the fifth-tallest freestanding structure in the world as well as the fifth tallest building in the world to the roof – Although Sears’ naming rights expired in 2003, the building continued to be called Sears Tower for several years.

In March 2009 London-based insurance broker Willis Group Holdings, Ltd., agreed to lease a portion of the building and obtained the building’s naming rights as part of the agreement. On July 16, 2009, at 10:00 am Central Time, the building was officially renamed Willis Tower Photograph by Daniel Schwen – In 1997 Toronto-based TrizecHahn Corp (the owner at the time of the CN Tower) purchased the building for $110 million, and assumption of $4 million in liabilities, and a $734 million mortgage. In 2003 Trizec surrendered the building to lender MetLife – In 2004 MetLife sold it to a group of investors that includes New York investors Joseph Chetrit, Joseph Moinian, Lloyd Goldman, Joseph Cayre and Jeffrey Feil and Skokie-based American Landmark Properties. The quoted price was $840 million with $825 million held in a mortgage – Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower opened as The Sears Tower Skydeck observation deck on June 22, 1974. It is located on the 103rd floor of the tower.

It is 1,353 feet (412 m) above ground and is one of the most famous tourist attractions in Chicago – The restrooms on the 103rd floor 1,353 feet (412 meters) above street level are the highest in the Western Hemisphere – The Empire State Building is a 102-story landmark Art Deco skyscraper in New York City at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York, The Empire State. It stood as the world’s tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center’s North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York City and New York State – The Empire State Building is the third tallest skyscraper in the Americas (after the Willis Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower both in Chicago), and the 15th tallest in the world. It is also the fourth tallest freestanding structure in the Americas.

The Empire State building is currently undergoing a $550 million renovation, with $120 million to be utilized in an effort to transform the building into a more energy efficient and eco-friendly structure – The Building was designed by William F. Lamb from the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, which produced the building drawings in just two weeks, using its earlier designs for the Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio – Excavation of the site began on January 22, 1930, and construction on the building itself started symbolically on March 17—St.Patrick’s Day—per Al Smith’s influence as Empire State, Inc. president. The project involved 3,400 workers, mostly immigrants from Europe, along with hundreds of Mohawk iron workers, many from the Kahnawake reserve near Montreal.

According to official accounts, five workers died during the construction Photograph by Michael Slonecker – At 9:40 a.m.on Saturday, July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, piloted in thick fog by Lieutenant Colonel William Franklin Smith, Jr., crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building, between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and flew as far as the next block where it landed on the roof of a nearby building, starting a fire that destroyed a penthouse. The other engine and part of the landing gear plummeted down an elevator shaft. The resulting fire was extinguished in 40 minutes. 14 people were killed in the incident. – Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the Guinness World Record for the longest survived elevator fall recorded – Over the years, more than thirty people have committed suicide from the top of the building. The first suicide occurred even before its completion, by a worker who had been laid off.

The fence around the observatory terrace was put up in 1947 after five people tried to jump during a three-week span Standing in lonely dignity in the midriff of Manhattan, a sentinel by land, a reassuring landmark by air, the Empire State Building is the quadri-faced pharos of the city. And until outstripped by the twin towers of the World Trade Center (1975), its 102 floors were the highest in New York. Though designed at the end of the so-called Art Deco period in the 1920s, when zigzagged appliques were prominent, its exterior shows little of the frippery characteristic of that 'decorated' period. It is, moreover, one of the very few skyscrapers with four facades, not just one facing the avenue. "Zoning required several setbacks, but these were given a skillful buildup of scale at the lower levels, while the tower itself rises unflinchingly. Indented setbacks in the center of each of the long sides help lateral scale. An observation platform and a pylon topped by a television transmission antenna crown all." — from G.E. Kidder Smith. Looking at Architecture. p152.

"The architectural, commercial, and popular success of the Empire State Building depended on a highly rationalized process, and equally efficient advertising and construction campaigns. Skillful designers of Manhattan office buildings, architects Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon were familiar with the imperatives of design and construction efficiency that maximized investors' returns by filling the building with tenants as soon as possible. ... "The Empire State Building, like most art deco skyscrapers, was modernistic, not modernist. It was deliberately less pure, more flamboyant and populist than European theory allowed. It appeared to be a sculpted or modeled mass, giving to business imagery a substantial character..." — Edward W. Wolner, in International Dictionary of Architects and Architecture, Randall J. Van Vynckt, editor. Volume 2, p963-964. Details 1252 feet (381 meters) high Built in just 16 months. The epitome of big buildings, billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World at its opening, the Empire State Building broke records in many categories, including height (1250 feet) and construction time (it took only one year and forty-five days to build).

Planned during the booming 1920's, it was constructed during the Depression. Largely vacant in its early years, it was said that the building relied on the stream of sightseers to the observation decks to pay its taxes. On July 28, 1945, a ten-ton B-25 bomber, lost in the fog, slammed into the north wall of the 78th and 79th floors. The plane's wings were sheared off by the impact, while the fuselage and other parts tore through inner walls, some parts coming out the opposite side of the building. Despite massive holes in those two walls, as well as damage to two supporting steel beams, there was no important structural damage done to the building. Stunning in both its height and simplicity, the building's sleek limestone and stainless steel design rises in a stunning series of setbacks ending with a bold seven-hundred foot tower, which was originally intended as a mooring dock for dirigibles. In 1950, the addition of a television antenna added another 225 feet to the building. The Empire State Building's two-story high ground floor corridors are crossed at intervals by stainless steel and glass-enclosed bridges.

Since the World Trade Center disaster, the Empire State Building has regained it's title of tallest building in New York. Prior to the World Trade Center's construction, the Empire State Building was the highest point from which to broadcast radio and television signals. Once built, not only did the Trade Center towers block these signals, it also became the highest point from which to broadcast. Nearly all broadcasters moved their expensive equipment to the new twin towers. Bibliography Irwin Clavan. "The Empire State Building, IX. The Mooring Mast", Architectural Forum. February 1931. Volume 54 Number 2. p229. drawing of artist's conception of the activities to be carried on in the mooring mast, p231. Howard Davis. Slide from photographer's collection. PCD.2260.1012.1702.050. PCD.2260.1012.1702.049. PCD.2260.1012.1702.048. PCD.2260.1012.1702.047 Sir Banister Fletcher.

Sir Banister Fletcher's A History of Architecture. 18th ed., revised by J.C. Palmes. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1975. ISBN 684-14207-4. NA200.F63. photo, p1224. — The classic text of architectural history. Mitchell Pacelle. Empire: A Tale of Obsession, Betrayal, and the Battle for an American Icon. John Wiley & Sons, 2001. — G. E. Kidder Smith. Looking at Architecture. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Publishers, 1990. ISBN 0-8109-3556-2. LC 90-30728. NA200.S57 1990. discussion, p152. twilight overview photo, p153. Henry C. Meyer, Jr. "The Empire State Building, IV. Heating and Ventilating", Architectural Forum. October 1930. Vol 53 Number 4. p517.

drawing of transverse section, p519. Toshino Nakamura, ed. "Empire State Building, 1931", A+U Extra Edition. April 1987. p129. drawing of exterior wall detail, p132. color drawing of exterior perspective, p6. R. H. Shreeve. "The Economic Design of Office Buildings", Architectural Record. April 1930. Vol 67 Number 4. p341. drawing of exterior perspective, p340. drawing of floors 6-20 plan, p339. drawing of floors 30, 32, 40 and 43 plan, p339. drawing of floor 66 and 67 plan, p339. The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in New York City, New York at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street. Its name is derived from the nickname for the state of New York.

It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building became for the second time, the tallest building in New York City. The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. The building and its street floor interior are designated landmarks of the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission, and confirmed by the New York City Board of Estimate.[5] It was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1986.[3][6][7] In 2007, it was ranked number one on the List of America's Favorite Architecture according to the AIA. The building is owned by Harold Helmsley's company and managed by its management/leasing division Helmsley-Spear. History of the building The present site of the Empire State Building was first developed as the John Thomson Farm in the late 18th century.

The block was occupied by the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in the late 19th century, and was frequented by The Four Hundred, the social elite of New York. Design and Construction The Empire State Building was designed by Gregory Johnson and his architectural firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon, which produced the building drawings in just two weeks, possibly using its earlier design for the R.J. Reynolds Tower in Winston-Salem, North Carolina as a basis.[8] The building was actually designed from the top down.[9] The general contractors were Starrett Brothers and Eken, and the project was financed by John J. Raskob. The construction company was chaired by Alfred E. Smith, a former Governor of New York.[2] Excavation of the site began on January 22, 1930, and construction on the building itself started symbolically on March 17—St.Patrick's Day—per Al Smith's influence as Empire State, Inc. president. The project involved 3,400 workers, mostly immigrants from Europe, along with hundreds of Mohawk iron workers.

According to official accounts, five workers died during the construction.[10] Governor Smith's grandchildren cut the ribbon on March 1st, 1931. The construction was part of an intense competition in New York for the title of the world's tallest building. Two other projects fighting for the title, 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building, were still under construction when work began on the Empire State Building. Both would hold the title for less than a year, as the Empire State Building had surpassed them upon its completion, just 410 days after construction commenced. The building was officially opened on May 1, 1931 in dramatic fashion, when United States President Herbert Hoover turned on the building's lights with the push of a button from Washington, D.C. Ironically, the first use of tower lights atop the Empire State Building, the following year, was for the purpose of signalling the victory of Franklin D. Roosevelt over Hoover in the presidential election of November 1932.[11] Empty State Building The building's opening coincided with the Great Depression in the United States, and as a result much of its office space went unrented.

In its first year of operation, the observation deck took in over a million dollars, as much money as its owners made in rent that year. The lack of renters led New Yorkers to deride the building as the "Empty State Building".[12] The building would not become profitable until 1950. The famous 1951 sale of The Empire State Building to Roger L. Stevens and his business partners was brokered by the prominent lower Manhattan real estate firm Charles F. Noyes & Company for a record $51 million. At the time, that was the highest price ever paid for a single structure in real estate history.[13] Dirigible Terminal The building's distinctive art deco spire was originally designed to be a mooring mast and depot for dirigibles. The 102nd floor was originally a landing platform with a dirigible gangplank.

A particular elevator, traveling between the 86th and 102nd floors, was supposed to transport passengers after they checked in at the observation deck on the 86th floor.[2] However, the idea proved to be impractical and dangerous after a few attempts with airships, due to the powerful updrafts caused by the size of the building itself. The T-shaped mooring devices remain in place. A large broadcast antenna was added to the top of the spire in 1952. 1945 Plane Crash At 9:40 a.m. on Saturday July 28, 1945, a B-25 Mitchell bomber, piloted by Lieutenant Colonel William F. Smith, Jr., who was flying in a thick fog, accidentally crashed into the north side of the Empire State Building between the 79th and 80th floors, where the offices of the National Catholic Welfare Council were located. One engine shot through the side opposite the impact and another plummeted down an elevator shaft. The fire was extinguished in 40 minutes.

Fourteen people were killed in the incident.[14][15] Elevator operator Betty Lou Oliver survived a plunge of 75 stories inside an elevator, which still stands as the Guinness World Record for the longest survived elevator fall recorded.[16] Despite the damage and loss of life, the building was open for business on many floors the following Monday. Tallest Skyscraper for 41 years The Empire State Building remained the tallest skyscraper in the world for a record 41 years, and stood as the world's tallest man-made structure for 23 years. It was surpassed by the North Tower of the World Trade Center in 1972, and the Sears Tower shortly afterwards. With the destruction of the World Trade Center in the September 11, 2001 attacks, the Empire State Building again became the tallest building in New York City, and the second-tallest building in the United States.

Suicides Over the years, more than thirty people have committed suicide from atop the building.[17] The fence around the observatory terrace was put up in 1947 after five people tried to jump during a three-week span.[18] In 1979, Elvita Adams jumped from the 86th floor, only to be blown back onto the 85th floor and left with only a broken hip.[19] The building was also the site of suicides in 2004 and 2006. Most recently a lawyer committed suicide by leaping from the 69th floor on Friday, April 13, 2007.[20] Features Architectural The Empire State Building rises to 1,250 feet (381.0 m) at the 102nd floor, and including the 203 foot pinnacle, its full height reaches 1,453 feet and 8 9/16th inches (443 m).

The building has 85 stories of commercial and office space (2,158,000 sq ft/200,000 m) and an indoor and outdoor observation deck on the 86th floor. The remaining 16 stories represent the art deco tower, which is capped by a 102nd floor observatory. Atop the tower is the 203 foot pinnacle, much of which is covered by broadcast antennas, with a lightning rod at the very top. The Empire State Building is the first building to have more than 100 floors. It also has over 100 bathrooms (lavatories). Empire State Building on a rainy July afternoonThe Empire State Building has 6,500 windows and 73 elevators. There are 1,860 steps from street level to the 102nd floor. It has a total floor area of approximately 2,768,591 square feet (257,000 m²). The base of the Empire State Building is about 2 acres (0.8 ha). The building houses 1,000 businesses, and has its own zip code.

As of 2007, approximately 20,000 employees work in the building each day, making the Empire State Building the second largest single office complex in America, after the Pentagon. The building was completed in one year and 45 days. Its original sixty-four elevators are located in a central core. Today, the Empire State Building has 73 elevators in all, including service elevators. It takes less than one minute by elevator to get to the 86th floor, where an observation deck is located. The building has 70 miles (113 km) of pipe and 2,500,000 feet (760,000 m) of electrical wire.[21] The building is heated by low pressure steam. Despite its height, the building only requires between two and three pounds per square inch (0.14 to 0.21 kg. per cm²) of steam pressure for heating. The building weighs approximately 370,000 short tons (336,000 M/T). The Empire State Building cost $40,948,900 to build.

Unlike most of today's high-rise buildings, the Empire State Building features a classic façade. The modernistic stainless steel canopies of the entrances on 33rd and 34th Streets lead to two story-high corridors around the elevator core, crossed by stainless steel and glass-enclosed bridges at the second floor level. The elevator core contains 67 elevators.[5] The lobby is three stories high and features an aluminum relief of the skyscraper without the antenna, which was not added to the spire until 1952. The north corridor contains eight illuminated panels, created by Roy Sparkia and Renée Nemorov in 1963, depicting the building as the Eighth Wonder of the World, alongside the traditional seven. Long-term forecasting of the life cycle of the structure was implemented at the design phase to ensure that the building's future intended uses were not restricted by the requirements of previous generations. This is particularly evident in the over-design of the building's electrical system..

Floodlights In 1964, floodlights were added to illuminate the top of the building at night, in colors chosen to match seasonal and other events, such as Christmas.[22] After the eightieth birthday and subsequent death of Frank Sinatra, for example, the building was bathed in blue light to represent the singer's nickname "Ol' Blue Eyes." After the death of actress Fay Wray (King Kong) in late 2004, the building stood in complete darkness for 15 minutes.[23] The floodlights bathed the building in red, white, and blue for several months after the destruction of the World Trade Center, then reverted to the standard schedule.[24] Traditionally, in addition to the standard schedule the building will be lit in the colors of New York's sports teams on the nights they have home games (orange, blue and white for the New York Knicks, red, white and blue for the New York Rangers, and so on). The building is illuminated in tennis ball yellow during the US Open tennis tournament in late August and early September.

It was even lit scarlet red twice for Rutgers University, once for a football game on November 9, 2006, when they played the University of Louisville in what would result in the biggest win in university history, and again on April 3, 2007 when the women's basketball team played Tennessee in the national championship game.[25] In June 2002, during the Golden Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom, New York City illuminated the Empire State Building in purple and gold (the monarchical colors of the Royal House of Windsor). New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg said that it was a sign of saying thank you to HM The Queen for having the National Anthem of the United States played at Buckingham Palace after the September 11, 2001 attacks, as well as the support the United Kingdom provided afterwards. The building has also been known to be illuminated in purple and white in honor of graduating students from New York University. When the New York Mets beat the New York Yankees in the May 2007 Subway Series, the building was bathed in the winner's colors, orange and blue, the following night.

The building was lit green for three days in honor of the Islamic holiday of Eid ul-Fitr in October 2007. The lighting, the first for a Muslim holiday, is intended to be an annual event.[26] Observation decks The Empire State Building has one of the most popular outdoor observatories in the world, having been visited by over 110 million people. The 86th floor observation deck offers impressive 360-degree views of the city. There is a second observation deck on the 102nd floor that is open to the public. It was closed in 1999, but reopened in November 2005. Completely enclosed and much smaller; it may be closed on high-traffic days. A panoramic view of New York City from the 86th floor observation deck of the Empire State Building, spring 2005 Broadcast stations New York City is the largest media market in the United States.

Since the September 11, 2001 attacks, nearly all of the city's commercial broadcast stations (both television and FM radio) have transmitted from the top of the Empire State Building, although a few FM stations are located at the nearby Condé Nast Building. Most New York City AM stations broadcast from just across the river in New Jersey. Communications devices for broadcast stations are located at the top of the Empire State Building. Broadcasting began at Empire on December 22, 1931 when RCA began transmitting experimental television broadcasts from a small antenna erected atop the spire (no longer a space reserved for dirigibles, after being proven impractical). They leased the 85th floor and built a laboratory there, and—in 1934—RCA was joined by Edwin Howard Armstrong in a cooperative venture to test his FM system from the Empire antenna.

When Armstrong and RCA fell out in 1935 and his FM equipment was removed, the 85th floor became the home of RCA's New York television operations, first as experimental station W2XBS channel 1, which eventually became (on July 1, 1941) commercial station WNBT, channel 1 (now WNBC-TV channel 4). NBC's FM station (WEAF-FM, now WQHT) began transmitting from the antenna in 1940. NBC retained exclusive use of the top of the Empire until 1950, when the FCC ordered the exclusive deal broken, based on consumer complaints that a common location was necessary for the (now) seven New York television stations to transmit from so that receiving antennas would not have to be constantly adjusted. Construction on a giant tower began. Other television broadcasters then joined RCA at Empire, on the 83rd, 82nd, and 81st floors, frequently bringing sister FM stations along for the ride. Multiple transmissions of TV and FM began from the new tower in 1951.

In 1965, a separate set of FM antennas were constructed ringing the 102nd floor observation area. When the World Trade Center was being constructed, it caused serious problems for the television stations, most of which then moved to the World Trade Center as soon as it was completed. This made it possible to renovate the antenna structure and the transmitter facilities for the benefit of the FM stations remaining there, which were soon joined by other FMs and UHF TVs moving in from elsewhere in the metropolitan area. The destruction of the World Trade Center necessitated a great deal of shuffling of antennas and transmitter rooms in order to accommodate the stations moving back uptown.

As of 2007, the Empire State Building is home to the following stations: TV: WCBS-TV 2, WNBC-TV 4, WNYW 5, WABC-TV 7, WWOR-TV 9 Secaucus, WPIX-TV 11, WNET 13 Newark, WNYE-TV 25, WXTV 41 Paterson, WNJU 47 Linden, and WFUT-TV 68 Newark FM: WXRK 92.3, WPAT-FM 93.1 Paterson, WNYC-FM 93.9, WPLJ 95.5, WQXR-FM 96.3, WQHT-FM 97.1, WSKQ-FM 97.9, WRKS-FM 98.7, WBAI 99.5, WHTZ 100.3 Newark, WCBS-FM 101.1, WQCD 101.9, WWFS 102.7, WKTU 103.5 Lake Success, WAXQ 104

.3, WWPR-FM 105.1, WCAA 105.9 Newark, WLTW 106.7, and WBLS 107.5.

Empire State Building Run-Up The Empire State Building Run-Up is a foot race from ground level to the 86th floor observation deck that has been held annually since 1978. Its participants are referred to both as runners and as climbers. The race covers a vertical distance of 1,050 ft (320m) and takes in 1,576 steps. The record time is 9 minutes and 33 seconds, achieved by Australian professional cyclist Paul Crake in 2003,[27][28] a climbing rate of 6,593 ft (2,010 m) per hour. In popular culture The Empire State Building is frequently depicted in many forms of popular culture, including films, television shows, video games, and fiction novels. Perhaps the most famous popular cultural representation of the building is in the 1933 film King Kong, in which the title character, a giant ape, climbs to the top to escape his captors. The observation deck is commonly used as a designated site for romantic rendezvous in films such as Love Affair, An Affair to Remember, Elf, and Sleepless In Seattle.

Further reading The Empire State Building Book, by Jonathan Goldman, St. Martin's Press, 1980. Unbuilding, by David Macaulay, Houghton Mifflin, 1986. The Empire State Building - The making of a landmark, by John Tauranac, Scribner, 1995. Construction: Building the Impossible, by Nathan Aaseng, The Oliver Press, Inc., 2000. Empire: A Tale of Obsession, Betrayal, and the Battle for an American Icon, by Mitchell Pacelle, Wiley, 2002 Higher: A Historic Race to the Sky and the Making of a City, by Neal Bascomb, Doubleday, 2003 Building The Empire State, edited by Carol Willis, Norton, 1998.

What Happened in 1931 including Pop Culture, Significant Events, Key Technology and Inventions How Much things cost in 1931 Average Cost of new house $6,790.00 Average wages per year $1,850.00 Cost of a gallon of Gas 10 cents Average Cost for house rent $18.00 per month A loaf of Bread 8 cents A LB of Hamburger Meat 11 cents Alarm Clock $3.50 New Car Average Price $640.00 Shoulder of Ohio Spring lamb 17 cents per pound Ohio 1932 Dozen Eggs 18 Cents Ohio 1932 Bananas 19 cents for 4 Pounds Ohio 1932 Prices for UK guides in Pounds Sterling Average House Price 600 United States -- Dust Bowl The Great Plains suffers devastating droughts, dust storms, and soil erosion during the Dust Bowl years. Farms suffer and massive ecological damage is done to the Midwestern and Southern Plains areas of the country. More Information and Timeline for the Dust Bowl 1.

The United States Congress passes the Homestead Act of 1862 and settlers move into the Great Plains and begin farming the lands. 2. Farmers plant dry wheat in the Great Plains prairies and continue to plow and plant millions of acres. This over-working of the land is one of the main reasons that the Dust Bowl became so devastating and lasted so long. 3. A drought hits the Midwestern and Plains states in 1931, dust from the overworked land begins creating dust storms. 4. The drought worsens in 1932 and more dust storms are reported. 5. The drought continues in 1933 and many farmers face foreclosures as the Great Depression also worsens. The Emergency Farm Mortgage Act and the Farm Credit Act are created to help save farms. 6. Many farmers flee from the Plains and abandon their farms in hopes of finding work in California. 7. The drought becomes the worst in US history during 1934 and a total of twenty-seven states are affected by it. 8. The Taylor Grazing Act goes into effect in 1934 and created heavily monitored grazing districts. It was used to help stem the damage caused by over-grazing the land.

9. The Drought Relief Service is created and starts buying cattle from struggling farmers in 1935. 10. The Emergency Relief Appropriation Act is created in April of 1935 and it forms the Works Progress Administration as well as providing hundreds of millions of dollars of drought relief. 11. The Black Sunday dust blizzard hits on April 14th, 1935 and is the worst dust storm of the Dust Bowl Years. It does massive amounts of damage to lands and property. 12. The Soil Conservation Service is established with the aim of developing topsoil preservation programs in 1935. 13. Recovery efforts continue in 1937 with the Shelterbelt Project. This project would utilize the Civilian Conservation Corps to plant native trees throughout the Great Plains, another program to help stop soil erosion. 14. The drought still continues in 1938, work intended to help with the problems caused by the drought and programs aimed at preventing further land issues continue as well. 15.

The drought ends in 1939 and the Plains states continue to recover and re-work the land with more soil-friendly and sustainable farming techniques and a better understanding of how to farm those lands. United States -- Empire State Building Empire State Building is completed and opens on May 1st , and becomes the tallest building in the world , it is a 102-story contemporary Art Deco style building in New York City More Information and Timeline for the Empire State Building 1. The Empire State building was designed by William F. Lamb. 2. Excavation of the building site started on January 22nd of 1930. 3. Construction began on March 17th, 1930. 4. The Empire State Building officially opened on May 1st, 1931 and it was the world's tallest building until 1970. United States -- Star Spangled Banner U.S. National Anthem becomes The Star Spangled Banner on March 3rd More Information for the U.S. National Anthem The "Star Spangled Banner" is officially adopted as the national anthem of the United States during March of 1931.

The song's lyrics were from a poem written by Francis Scott Key in 1814 during the War of 1812 while the music was taken from song "To Anacreon in Heaven" which was believed to have been written some time in the late 1700s by British composer John Stafford Smith. The notoriously difficult to sing anthem had previously been used by the United States Navy in the late 1800's but it did not become the official national anthem until the United States Congress passed a resolution and President Hoover signed it into law in 1931. Prior to 1931 the country did not actually have an official national anthem. Spain -- King Alfonso XIII King Alfonso XIII of Spain is forced to live in Exile in Rome following Spain Becoming a Republic More Information and Timeline for the Second Spanish Republic 1. General Miguel Primo de Rivera is overthrown as Spain's leader on January 28th, 1930. 2. Several Republican factions join together with the intention of overthrowing the Spanish monarchy and they form the Pact of San Sebastian. 3. Republicans won the April 12th, 1931 municipal elections in a landslide.

4. On April 14th, 1931, the Second Spanish Republic was proclaimed. 5. King Alfonso XIII goes into exile after the Second Spanish Republic is created. 6. A provisional government is then formed under Niceto Alcala-Zamora. 7. A new constitution is drafted in June of 1931 and it is the law of the land by December of that year. 8. A civil war erupts in Spain, however the constitution of the Second Spanish Republic remains in effect until 1939 when the Spanish Civil War ended. United States -- Round the World Flight Wiley Post and Harold Gatty complete their around-the-world flight. More Information for Post and Gatty Flight Aviator Wiley Post and navigator Harold Gatty began their record-breaking around-the-world flight during June of 1931. Post and Gatty took off from New York in their plane, the Winnie Mae, and made several stops as they traveled around the globe. Trouble with their propeller held them up in Alaska and after they had it replaced they resumed their journey.

Post and Gatty successfully completed their trip of over 15,000 miles returning to New York in just over 8 days, eclipsing Hugo Eckner's previous record of 21 days in the Graf Zeppelin. Post would later become the first person to successfully complete a solo around-the-world flight two years later in 1933. Japan invades Manchuria in China after the Mukden Incident. More Information for the Mukden Incident The Mukden Incident and the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in China take place during September of 1931. The Mukden Incident happened when Japanese troops were sent into Manchuria under the pretense of protecting a Japanese controlled railway where there had been an explosion. Japan soon took over the entirety of Manchuria. Japan had already been occupying nearby Korea and was worried that the potential unification of China could endanger their control on the region. In order to maintain a neutral zone they decided to occupy the Northeast region of China and were met with little resistance. Japan would continue to occupy Manchuria until the end of World War II in 1945 . The classic horror film "Dracula" is released.

More Information for the premiere of Dracula The classic horror film "Dracula" starring Bela Lugosi as the title character premieres during February of 1931 at the Roxy Theater in New York City. The film was directed by Tod Browning and was the first film to legally adapt Bram Stoker's Gothic vampire novel, with the film "Nosferatu" having done so in 1922 but without the rights to the story. The film also took many cues from the stage play with the same name that was created by Hamilton Deane and John Balderston in 1924. "Dracula" was a hit after its release and was praised by many critics who seemed to particularly appreciate Lugosi's performance. In 2000 the film was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress. The first Warner Bros' Merrie Melodies cartoon is created. More Information for Merrie Melodies Warner Bros. creates their first "Merrie Melodies" cartoon "Lady, Play Your Mandolin!" during August of 1931. The cartoon was about seven minutes long and featured the character of "Foxy" who looked similar to Disney's "Mickey Mouse" character.

The "Merrie Melodies" series was created by the same team that created "Looney Tunes" during 1930 and many "Merrie Melodies" cartoons would go on to feature Looney Tunes characters. Merrie Melodies was primarily created to feature Warner Bros. music and to be used as advertisements for recordings and sheet music in what could be considered an early version of a music video. Merrie Melodies shorts would continue to be produced until 1969. United States -- Classic Frankenstein Film Released The iconic pre-code horror film �Frankenstein,� starring Boris Karloff as the Monster, debuted during November of 1931. The film also starred Colin Clive as Dr. Frankenstein and Mae Clarke as Elizabeth, his fiance. The film was an adaptation of Peggy Webling�s 1927 play, which was also based on Mary Shelley�s 1818 novel of the same name. �Frankenstein� was praised by both critics and the public as a thrilling piece of entertainment. In 1991, the black and white movie was selected to be preserved by the Library of Congress due to its cultural significance.

September 17th -- The Bronx, New York, U.S. John Le Carr� October 19th -- Poole, Dorset, England Angie Dickinson September 30th -- Kulm, North Dakota, U.S. Robert Duvall January 5th -- San Diego, California, U.S. Larry Hagman September 21st -- Fort Worth, Texas, U.S. Rupert Murdoch March 11th -- Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Leonard Nimoy March 26th -- Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.

Willie Shoemaker August 19th -- Fabens, Texas, United States Desmond Tutu October 7th -- Klerksdorp, Transvaal, South Africa Technology More Television is broadcast and RCA places a transmitter at the top of The Empire State Building Inventions Invented by Inventors and Country ( or attributed to First Use ) Electric Razor USA by Jacob Schick Nylon USA by Wallace Corothers - artificial silk Aerosol Can Norway by Erik Rotheim Australia -- Prime Minister -- James Scullin -- Brazil -- President -- Military Joint Tri -- Till 3 November Brazil -- President -- Get�lio Vargas -- From 3 November Canada -- Prime Minister -- Richard Bedford Bennett -- Italy -- Prime Minister -- Benito Mussolini -- Japan -- Prime Minister -- Osachi Hamaguchi -- Till 14 April Japan -- Prime Minister -- Reijiro Wakatsuki -- From 14 April Japan -- Prime Minister -- Reijiro Wakatsuki -- Till 13 December Japan -- Prime Minister -- Tsuyoshi Inukai -- From 13 December Mexico -- President -- Pascual Ortiz Rubio -- Russia / Soviet Union -- General Secretary of the Central Committee -- Joseph Stalin -- South Africa -- Prime Minister -- James Barry Munnik Hertz

og -- United States -- President -- Herbert Hoover United Kingdom -- Prime Minister -- Ramsay MacDonald -- Political Elections British General Election 1931 Stanley Baldwin ( Conservative ) defeats Arthur Henderson ( Labour ) and Sir Herbert Samuel ( Liberal ) Due to the effects of the great depression although Conservative won a large majority Ramsay MacDonald stays on as The British Prime Minister in a (National Government) Waldorf Astoria History | Historic NYC Hotels | Timeline Hotel History Hotel History Discover the unique history of the legendary Waldorf Astoria New York—the hotel which Conrad Hilton labeled ‘The Greatest of Them All’.

Explore the traditions, legacy and iconic status of a hotel that has welcomed every US President since Herbert Hoover. 1893 1893 Millionaire William Waldorf Astor opened the 13-story Waldorf Hotel on the site of his mansion at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street, designed by renowned architect Henry Hardenbergh. 1897 1897 Four years later, The Waldorf was joined by the 17-story Astoria Hotel, erected on an adjacent site by Waldorf's cousin, John Jacob Astor IV. 1919 1919 John Jacob Astor IV died tragically on the Titanic on April 15, 1912 and William Waldorf Astor died on 18 October 1919 in England, where he’d relocated to in 1893. 1929 1929 Closing of the first Waldorf-Astoria. While the original was the arguably the grandest hotel in the world, in the 1920's, with so many new technological advances, it was becoming dated.

So the decision was made to sell the site to the developers of what would become the Empire State building and to tear down the hotel in 1929. 1931 1931 The second Waldorf-Astoria hotel opened in its current location on Park Avenue on October 1, 1931, as the tallest and largest hotel in the world. President Herbert Hoover, in a radio broadcast from The White House, saluted the new hotel, "The opening of the new Waldorf Astoria is an event in the advancement of hotels, even in New York City. It carries great tradition in national hospitality...marks the measure of nation's growth in power, in comfort and in artistry...an exhibition of courage and confidence to the whole nation...” 1945 1945 Weekend at The Waldorf was the First major motion picture filmed entirely in a hotel and outside of Hollywood's studios, featuring Ginger Rogers. The film grossed $4,366,000 and ranked number seven at the box office in 1945.

1949 1949 Conrad Hilton contracted to acquire control of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel on October 12, 1949. Conrad had once written on a photograph of the hotel ‘The Greatest Of Them All’ and one of his lifelong ambitions was realized by adding Waldorf Astoria New York to his collection. 1957 1957 Hollywood sex symbol and one-time Waldorf Astoria resident Marilyn Monroe photographed with then-husband, playwright Arthur Miller, at the "April in Paris Ball" in the hotel’s Grand Ballroom. Monroe had formerly resided in the Waldorf Astoria’s $1,000-per-week Suite in 1955, after fleeing her troubled life in Hollywood for the comparative calm of New York City. 1963 1963 The Waldorf Astoria New York’s Park Avenue-side flags lowered to half-mast in mourning at the death of US President John F. Kennedy, tragically assassinated during a political trip to Dallas, Texas.

1971 1971 Multi-award winning singer Ella Fitzgerald, widely known as “The Queen of Jazz”, performs her inimitable brand of improvisational jazz at the Waldorf Astoria New York’s Starlight Roof. Fitzgerald famously referenced the hotel’s eponymous Waldorf Salad in her rendition of Cole Porter’s “You're The Top”. 1983 1983 President Richard Nixon and Bob Hope meet at the Silver Anniversary of the National Football Foundation Annual Awards Dinner in 1983. President Nixon had been honored with the National Football Foundation’s Gold Medal in 1969, while Bob Hope received the Foundation's Distinguished American Award in 1974. 1993 1993 The Waldorf Astoria became an official New York City landmark, joining other major icons like The Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge. 2006 2006 The Luxury Brand of Hilton Worldwide, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts is launched with four iconic properties: La Quinta, Grand Wailea, the Arizona Biltmore and the New York Property. Today, the luxury Brand expands internationally with over 25 hotels open in major international city hubs.

For more historical information, visit . The Waldorf Blog Champagne Bar

Question: Which US President officially opened the Empire State Building in New York?
Answer: Herbert Hoover