Instant Access To 100,000+ Essays!

The Empire State Building is a famous landmark in New York City. It was the tallest building in the world at the time of its completion and for many years afterward. The 102-story building measures 1,250 feet from the sidewalk to the roof. The Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue between 33rd Street and 34th Street. Construction of the Empire State Building began in March of 1930 on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. It was completed 14 months later in May, 1931. Designed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon Associates, the Empire State Building, at 102 stories, was the tallest building in the world until the completion of the first tower of the World Trade Center in Lower Manhattan in 1972. In 1931 the country was already in The Great Depression. It was a time of despair. The Empire State Building gave hope, ambition, and inspiration to America. It was completed extremely fast for such a huge building. On average, they completed 4 ½ stories of framework per week. The cornerstone was placed by Alfred E. Smith, former governor of New York, September 17, 1930. The building cost $24,718,000. The Empire State Building officially opened on May 1, 1931, by