Empire State Building

You’ve undoubtedly seen it while wandering the streets of New York City – the iconic Empire State Building, a source of immense pride for both New Yorkers and the entire nation. At a towering 381 meters, it’s one of the tallest skyscrapers in the American megalopolis, after One World Trade Center, Central Park Tower and other newer skyscrapers. It ranked first during much of the 20th century, back when it was even the tallest skyscraper in the world. It’s actually named after New York itself – you see, for a long time, it was known as the “Empire State.” It was built in record time, with more than 3,000 workers on the job, constructing an average of 4.5 storeys a week! It took a mere 13 months for this monumental tower to see the light of day and it was the first building in the world with more than 100 storeys. Yet the Empire State Building is best known for its breathtaking views. Visitors can climb up to the 86th floor, and more recently to the 102nd, where they’ll be treated to a panoramic vista of the city that stretches for nearly 130 kilometers if the weather allows it. From up there, you can see Rockefeller Center, Central Park and One World Trade Center – iconic landmarks that welcome over 4 million people a year, including some of the world’s biggest stars. But back to the Empire State Building. It appears in one of the most iconic scenes in American cinema, in the famous 1933 film “King Kong;” where the giant monster climbs it to escape his enemies. And every year, it plays host to the thrilling Empire State Building Run-Up, where competitors race to ascend all 86 floors as quickly as possible to surpass the record set by Australian athlete Paul Crake, who managed to climb the1,576 steps in a mere 9 minutes and 30 seconds. Now, that’s a challenge! In 1994, the French daredevil Alain Robert, aptly nicknamed the “French Spiderman,” climbed the outside of the Empire State Building. Listed as a National Historic Landmark in 1986, the famous Empire State Building is truly an awe-inspiring sight, especially when illuminated at dusk.