For 95 years, the Empire State Building has defined how the world sees New York.
Today, the reimagined Empire State Building Observation Deck continues to captivate visitors from around the globe and earned recognition as the #1 Attraction in New York City for four consecutive years. The 95th Anniversary celebrates more than a milestone; it celebrates the Empire State Building’s iconic legacy. From the immersive museum to the unmatched 360° views from 86th Floor Observation Deck, the Empire State Building remains New York City’s most essential destination. There has never been a better time to visit the most famous building in the world.
Check back each week as we reveal our favorite moments from the building’s 95-year history below!
August 1929 - The Empire State Inc. Consortium is Announced to the Public
In August 1929, the Enyan Corporation became Empire State, Inc., and a new chapter for New York began. Plans, blueprints, and contracts moved swiftly, and a bold idea took shape – to transform the site of the old Waldorf Astoria into the world’s first 100+ story building.
December 1929 – Empire State Inc. obtained a $27.5 million loan from Metropolitan Life Insurance Company
In December 1929, Empire State, Inc. secured a $27.5 million loan from MetLife, an unmistakable sign that a bold idea was ready to become a reality. The financing turned plans and blueprints into momentum and enabled the construction of the building that would redefine New York’s skyline.
March 17, 1930 – Construction begins on ESB
On March 17, 1930, construction began on the Empire State Building, and at a remarkable speed. The building rose by more than four floors a week, a feat of efficiency that became a point of pride. What started that day was not just the start of construction; it was the launch of a modern icon.
May 1, 1931 – Opening Day
On May 1, 1931, the Empire State Building opened its doors with a ribbon cutting to mark the moment New York’s new icon officially joined the skyline. Just a year after construction began, the building’s rapid rise became a marvel in its own right. To mark the occasion, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C. to officially open the building and turn on its iconic lights for the first time.
1931 – NBC leases space on ESB's 85th floor for radio broadcasts
The Empire State Building took on a new role when broadcast giant NBC leased space on its 85th Floor. The new lease allowed NBC to transmit programs across the country and connected millions of listeners to American entertainment and news.
1932 – ESB makes first media appearance in Christopher Morley’s “Swiss Family Begin Manhattan”
The Empire State Building made one of its earliest cultural cameos in “Swiss Family Manhattan,” a children’s story by Christopher Morley that imagined the adventurous New Yorkers who live among the city’s marvels.
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