Empire State Building

Completed in 1931 during the Great Depression at a cost of over US$40 million, the Empire State Building is an enduring symbol of New York City and the USA. It was built during an era of skyscraper wars, and at 443.2m (1454 ft) tall, the Empire State Building defeated the world’s then tallest building and fellow Art Deco gem, the nearby Chrysler Building. The developers, Empire State Inc, initially struggled to find any tenants for the gigantic office block, due to its size, although it was eventually leased to various companies. Visitors can access the observatory on the 86th floor for spectacular views over the Big Apple. In addition, there is a virtual-reality movie theatre with NYSkyride attraction (www.skyride.com) located on the second floor. The tower has also featured in numerous films, such as ‘An Affair to Remember’, ‘When Harry Met Sally’, ‘King Kong’, ‘Independence Day’, ‘Taxi Driver’ and ‘Sleepless in Seattle’.