New York State History

The Empire State Building, "the most famous building in the world," stands in the heart of Manhattan at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street—one of the greatest shopping areas in the world.

The panoramic views from its Observatories, one on the 86th and one on the 102nd floors are un­matched and awe-inspiring. On a clear day, one can see for 80 miles into the neighboring states of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Some 48-miIlion visitors have attested to the greatness of the view. The Building, 102 stories tall, is topped with a 222-foot TV antenna—used by nine stations, and a master FM antenna—used by 11 stations. Opened on May 1, 1931, The Building is already storied in history. Many will remember it as the office tower that the moving pic­ture monster King Kong climbed, only to be shot at and killed by ma­chine gunners in airplanes. Will Durant, noted historian, said of The Empire State Building, it is "as sub­lime as Chartres Cathedral."