Empire State Building Facts

If you are interested in learning details about some of New York City's most world famous landmarks, it can help to read up on some key Empire State Building facts. The Empire State Building is an Art Deco structure that stands 102 feet high. Located in Midtown Manhattan, the skyscraper is one of New York City's most beloved tourist attractions, with an 86th-floor observation deck that offers panoramic vistas of the borough and beyond. For approximately 40 years, the building was the tallest on the entire planet.

1. Construction - The Empire State Building was conceptualized and constructed over a span of about three years. The architects were of the Shreve, Lamb and Harmon firm (Richmond Harold Shreve, William F. Lamb and Arthur Loomis Hamilton). Official construction began in the spring of 1930, and was officially finished about 14 months later, in May of 1931. To complete the structure, it took about 7,000,000 man hours, with, at some busy times, 34,000 workers building simultaneously.
2. Dimensions - The Empire State Building is 102 stories and 1,454 feet in total length. From the street to the top, the building consists of 1,860 steps. The total weight of the Empire State Building is 365,000 tons, while the volume is 37 million cubic feet. The location's total area is 83,860 square feet.
3. Famous Visitors - The Empire State Building has hosted a variety of internationally recognized public figures. These celebrities include actor Tom Cruise, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Andrew of England, the Cuban political leader Fidel Castro, Brazilian soccer star Pele, the rock band KISS and the Cold War politician Nikita Khrushchev.
4. Tourism - The Empire State Building is one of the busiest and most popular tourist attractions in New York City. The building sees approximately 3.5 million annual visitors. Since the Empire State Building's official opening in 1931, about 110 million people from all over the world have visited.
5. Inside the Building - The Empire State Building is not inhabited by any permanent residents due to insufficient facilities for bathing. Most of the building is made up of rentable offices spaces, apart from the observation deck and other spaces designated for tourists.