The Empire State Building: 95 Years of Iconic Moments

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.

Empire State, Inc. began demolition of the old Waldorf Astoria to turn the prime Midtown site into what would soon become the world's tallest building. This milestone opened a path to New York City’s favorite viewpoint. 

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.  

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.  

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. 

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. 

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. 

One year after it opened its doors, Winston Churchill visited the Empire State Building. This historic moment signaled how quickly the world’s attention turned to New York’s newest icon and reinforced the building as an aspirational destination. 

“King Kong” roared onto screens and made the Empire State Building a cinematic legend in 1933. As the film’s unforgettable finale unfolded high above New York, the building became the stage for epic storytelling that captured audiences’ attention. Almost overnight, the landmark invited the world to see New York City in a whole new way. 

In 1934, a team of acrobats – “Three Jacksons” – visited the Empire State Building to perform a series of daring balancing acts on the ledges of the world’s tallest building. At a time when the skyscraper was still new to the skyline, these performers chose ESB as their stage not just for the thrill, but for what the building already represented – icon status, architectural achievement, and the spirit of New York City. 

Their stunt quickly captured worldwide attention. Newspapers around the globe printed photographs of the acrobats suspended against the open sky, and audiences were amazed not only by the performers but by the unmistakable backdrop. 

When “I Love Lucy” brought its beloved characters to New York City in the 1954 episode “Lucy Is Envious,” the Empire State Building played a starring role. In the story, Lucy and Ethel take on a wild publicity stunt that sends them up to the iconic 86th Floor Observation Deck. Their comedic misadventure served as further proof that ESB was already a global icon, and a must-visit attraction in New York City.

In 1955, the American Society of Civil Engineers recognized the Empire State Building as one of the seven greatest engineering achievements in America’s history and placed it among the “Seven Wonders of the Modern World.” Just 24 years after its doors opened, ESB was already celebrated not only as a New York City landmark, but as a pioneering triumph of modern engineering.

This honor reflected the extraordinary ambition behind the building’s creation. Constructed in just over a year – a pace unheard of even today – ESB showcased innovative steel-frame engineering, advanced elevator systems, and a design that allowed it to soar higher than any structure before it. Its selection by the ASCE confirmed that the Empire State Building represented the pinnacle of American ingenuity and boldness.