The Most Famous Building in America

by Esmé Zink, age 11

The Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world from 1931 to 1971, with over 100 stories.

The Empire State Building is located on Fifth Avenue at 34th Street in Midtown Manhattan. Construction started on March 17, 1930. It took only 410 days to build, which was less time than anyone could have anticipated. The building formally opened on May 1, 1931.

The people behind the construction of the Empire State Building were John J Raskob and Al Smith. Raskob was a self-made business man, and once the chairman of the General Motors Corporation Committee with Smith, who was governor of New York.

When the Empire State Building was being built, there was competition for the title of tallest building in the world. The Chrysler Building claimed the title in 1929. However, the Empire State Building claimed it in 1931, measuring 1,250 feet without its antenna, which was later added in 1950. This increased the height to 1,472 feet, but was later reduced to 1,454 feet when the antenna was replaced in 1985.

Today the Empire State Building remains as an iconic landmark of New York City. Observatories are located on the building, allowing for travelers from around the world to come visit and admire the views of the city.

[Sources: Encyclopedia Brittanica; The New York Times]