Empire State Building, NYC
One of the most popular tourist sites in America, is the Empire State building in Manhattan. This one structure held the title of the tallest building in the world for forty years. The famous building has starred and held supporting roles in over 100 films, and is one of the first places visitors go when in NY for the first time. This is part of one of the most incredible skylines, most recognized, and sits on a corner downtown among other New York restaurants and historical attractions. It has come to symbolize the spirit of the people of the city. Built during the Depression, it stands as testimony to strength and will of New Yorkers, something that continues to this day.
This building was part of a race, a competition between two car companies actually, Chrysler and General Motors. The two men heading up those companies at the time, and in competition with each other were Walter Chrysler and John Raskob. It was quite simple, involved just… who could complete the tallest skyscraper first. Raskob’s commission to task, included members of the DuPont family and corporation and Alfred E. Smith, a previous New York governor.
The project was started in 1930 and took just one year, and one month…45 days to be exact to finish. All phases of the construction were completed ahead of schedule, and as it was during the Depression, the materials necessary for the construction were priced relatively low. The land and the cost of construction is just over 40 million dollars. Herbert Hoover, the current US president at the time, turned the lights on at the Empire State Building, on the first day of May in 1931. The famous observation deck, providing views of the entire city of Manhattan as well as the Hudson River and banks that border New Jersey.
And now, the building, though no longer holding the ‘tallest building in the world’ achievement, still holds visual, as well as romantic titles. Visually, depending on the holiday or the particular celebration the colors of the lights atop it change. And romantically, well, this building is New York. It symbolizes a city and the people of that city. And no person who has ever stood on the deck can not be affected by the history of a city, that for all intents and purposes, was the beginning of an entire country.
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