Empire State Building

A visit to the Empire State Building is worthwhile. The ESB is tall, majestic and the view from the top is not too shabby.

Some fun facts:

• Location:  350 Fifth Avenue, the former location of a stream running across a farm, until construction of mansions for the Astor family and the later construction of hotels that became the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in 1893
• Construction lasted 14 months, beginning on January 22, 1930 with excavation followed by construction lasting from St. Patrick's Day (1930) until April 11, 1931
• Height:  roof height is 1, 250 feet and the antenna spire on top of the mooring mast rises to 1,454 feet
• Building:  103 floors, 2.25M square feet, 73 elevators
• Original Cost:  $41M (or $637 million in 2016 dollars)
• Renovation:  $550M in 2010 
• LEED-Gold since 2011
• Observation decks are located on the 86th and 102nd floors

The observation deck on the 86th floor provides sweeping views of New York City and nearby New Jersey.

Enjoying a visit to the Empire State Building observation deck

View from ESB, looking north toward the Bank of America building (slanted roof, white spire) and the Hudson River

With apologies to Atlas, Susan holding up the Empire State Building

View from ESB, looking south toward 1 World Trade Center (tallest building) and the Financial District.  Can you spot the Flatiron building and the Statue of Liberty?