The Empire State Building: Everything You Need to Know
Photo: Alexander Spatari/Getty Images
If there’s one structure nearly everyone who’s even thought of visiting New York City can name, it’s the Empire State Building (ESB). Located at 34th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, it’s one of the defining structures of the city and one of America’s most famous buildings too. The icon’s power as a tourist attraction has been proven time and time again—every year since 2022 it’s been voted the best attraction in the US on TripAdvisor, and in 2024 it claimed the top spot for best attraction in the entire world. Below, we break down everything you need to know about the ESB’s history, its architectural details, and what it’s like popping by for a visit.
History of the Empire State Building
In the 1920s, New York City was developing rapidly. Per A History of New York in 27 Buildings, “more than 50 buildings of 35 stories or more [were] either completed or underway” at the time. Claiming the title of tallest building in the world was hotly desired by all New York real estate investors as Manhattan was built up, and a number of lofty plans were announced throughout the ’20s. “Of all these projects, the only one to survive the stock market crash was Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon’s Empire State Building,” Robert A.M. Stern, Gregory Gilmartin, and Thomas Mellins wrote in New York 1930.
The top of the Empire State building
Much of this was thanks to businessman John Jakob Raskob, who made his fortune from investments and his career working for DuPont and General Motors; he had the funds to push the project through. After running an unsuccessful presidential campaign for Alfred E. Smith in 1928, he and Smith became directors of the Empire State Building Corporation—which was funded by Raskob and other wealthy investors—to finance the construction of the now world famous building. At the time, The Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and 40 Wall Street were in competition to be tallest, and though the Chrysler Building was completed first, Raskob’s Empire State Building won in the long run.
The midtown Manhattan that the Empire State Building emerged into was not yet the skyscraper-dense neighborhood we know today. On a visit to the Empire State Building, tourists can learn about the Manhattan of the ’30s in the exhibitions, which were added in 2019. Viewfinders provide glimpses of what life on the street looked like, and a room with floor-to-ceiling video screens immerses guests in an average day at the Empire State Building’s worksite. True to history, there’s not a harness or hard hat in sight!
Architectural Details of the Empire State Building
helicopter,empire state building and west side of manhattan
As retold in A History of New York in 27 Buildings, Raskob demonstrated his vision for the building to his architects by simply holding up a finely tipped pencil. A straightforward skyscraper wasn’t in the cards though. The 1916 Zoning Resolution included safeguards to protect the air and light flow down city streets as Manhattan rapidly developed. Every NYC architect of the period, including the firm Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon, which designed the Empire State Building, had to taper their designs up (or in industry terminology, add setbacks). The response to this very practical issue led to the Empire State Building’s distinct profile, including the five story base in which the building’s lobbies and restaurants are located.
Exterior Design of the Empire State Building
Though the Empire State Building isn’t as audaciously Art Deco as, say, the Chrysler Building or even Rockefeller Center, it’s still a notable example of the style, which reigned throughout the ’20s and ’30s. Black granite and aluminum strips frame the shop windows, while the much smaller windows above feature window frames painted a copperish red tone that contrasts against the Indiana limestone, the building’s primary construction material. The exterior of the Fifth Avenue entrance features geometric transom windows and sculpted concrete eagle ornamentation.
The building’s spire was originally intended as “a mooring mast for dirigibles,” as Anthony Robins explains in New York Art Deco: A Guide to Gotham’s Jazz Age Architecture. “Theoretically, passengers would exit the dirigible at the building’s top, 1,250 feet in the air, and be whisked by elevators down to midtown’s streets. It never happened,” Robins writes.
Interior Design of the Empire State Building
From a design standpoint, the original Fifth Avenue lobby is undoubtedly the most impressive interior space tourists will have the opportunity to see while visiting the Empire State Building. Restored by Beyer Blinder Belle Architects & Planners to align with the original design as much as possible, the triple-height lobby features marble walls, a metal mural of the building designed by metalworker Oscar Bach on the back wall, and a ceiling mural of stars, planets, the sun, and the moon.
The ceiling mural had previously been covered with a drop ceiling in the ‘60s, and it suffered smoke and water damage in the 80+ years between its creation and the restoration. The Beyer Blinder Belle team worked with mural restoration firm EverGreene Architectural Arts to meticulously recreate it based on historical photos, as recounted in the Art Deco Society of New York journal.
“There are so many unique elements to the Empire State Building that make it an iconic architectural gem cherished by so many around the world,” Yuri Choi, director of design and turnkey services for Empire State Realty Trust, tells AD. “The fascinating Art Deco design; traditional craftsmanship with modern industrial elements; metallic colors that feature sunbursts, zigzags, and other dramatic shapes; as well as the 24-karat gold and aluminum leaf mural on the building’s ceiling are just some of the characteristics that make this building so special.”
Empire State Building Uses
Since its inception, the Empire State Building has been intended to serve as both a tourist attraction and an office building. Current office tenants include LinkedIn, Shutterstock, JCDecaux, and Skanska, among others. One of the building’s exhibitions showcases a handful of the office tenants, offering a glimpse at how each one has decorated their square footage. All office tenants have access to a 15,000-square-foot fitness club, 10,000 square feet of lounge space, and more amenities located within the building.
Manhattan from above by helicopter
In addition to the office space and observatory, a number of restaurants and shops are located at the base of the Empire State Building. Current options include a Starbucks Reserve Restaurant & Bar, Tacombi, State Grill & Bar, Chopt, Chipotle, and Juice Press. AT&T and FedEx Express shops are located on the ground floor as well.
How to Visit the Empire State Building
There’s a variety of ticket options available for the Empire State Building observatory, but regardless of which option you choose, be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time on the building’s website. The 86th-floor open-air observatory, which you’ll likely recognize from movies and TV, is included in all ticket options, while an upgraded ticket will give you access to the 102nd floor observatory as well. Information on the wide range of experience options—which include express passes, all access tours, and more—is available on the ticketing page.
While long queues were once a given on a visit to the Empire State Building, the new exhibition spaces added in 2019 combined with the timed ticket system have reduced wait times drastically. “The millions of visitors who [have] come to the Empire State Building and have not visited since the winter of 2019 are amazed by our completely reimagined experience,” says Jean-Yves Ghazi, president of the Empire State Building Observatory. “The $165 million renovation features a new, designated visitor’s entrance, 10,000 square feet of immersive digital and tactile exhibits that celebrate the Empire State Building over time, a redesigned 80th floor with additional exhibits, and a top-to-bottom redo of the 102nd floor observatory.”
View
Tourists who opt to stop by the 102nd floor will see the entrance to the 103rd floor as well, though it’s reserved for celebrities, athletes, and dignitaries.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Empire State Building so famous?
For decades, the Empire State Building was first and foremost famous because of its massive size. Especially in the first half of the 20th century, people simply weren’t accustomed to seeing tall structures in the way that we are now, so the building was quite the spectacle from the outside alone. To put things into perspective, before the 1,046-foot-tall Chrysler Building was completed in 1930 (a year prior to the Empire State Building), one would have to travel to the Eiffel Tower in Paris to see a structure over one thousand feet tall. Of course, the Empire State Building’s height also afforded it its impressive views. From the very beginning, its observatory was open to the public, offering the opportunity to glimpse New York far and wide to all.
Nowadays, part of the beauty of being at the top of the empire state building is reflecting on how much New York City has changed since it first opened (Billionaire’s Row and One World Trade Center are relatively new additions, for instance), as well as the few sights that have stayed the same (Central Park, the Statue of Liberty) in the ever-changing metropolis.
Empire State Building and New York City skyline at night
What movies and TV shows has the Empire State Building appeared in?
Without a doubt, the most famous Empire State Building appearance was in the original King Kong film, released in 1933, just two years after the structure was completed. In the movie, King Kong climbs to the very top of the building—a scene that has produced an endless amount of merch and souvenirs. Since then there have been countless other Empire State Building appearances on film, both big and small. For rom-com fans, Nora Ephron’s Sleepless in Seattle is one of the most iconic. In the movie, the characters portrayed by Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan meet for the very first time on the building’s 86th floor observation deck at the end.
Several 2000s television shows also feature scenes that take place on the 86th floor, including Gossip Girl, The Mindy Project, and Broad City.
Who owns the Empire State Building?
The Empire State Building has been owned by the Empire State Realty Trust since the early 2000s. In 2013, a real estate investment trust went public.
Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
More Great Stories From AD
Sign up for our daily newsletter to get the best of design in your inbox.
Tour a Swanky Hollywood Regency–Style Home in LA Reimagined for a Modern Lifestyle
15 Best Labor Day Furniture Sales and Decor Deals We’re Shopping Right Now
This Sprawling Texas Home Pops With Every Color of the Rainbow
Tennis Star Sloane Stephens Has a Sweet and Unexpected At-Home Hobby
Extreme Minimalism: 7 People Who Pared All the Way Down Talk Living (Nearly) Furniture-Free
Justin Bieber’s Houses: Inside the Real Estate Portfolio of the Singer and His Wife, Hailey
Not a subscriber? Join AD for print and digital access now.
