Empire State Building
Arguably the most famous skyscraper in the world. Millions of visitors a year go up to the Observation Deck for the most spectacular views of the great metropolis.
An icon, and the backdrop for so many movies, the Empire State Building is the most visited and beloved of the skyscrapers in New York. Distinctly art-deco, set on a steel frame, it rises up a sleek, limestone and granite tower with 6,500 windows. Floodlights were added in 1964, to illuminate the top of the building at night.
These colours are selected to match particular events and can range from the deeply poignant: red, white, and blue following the fall of the World Trade Centre, to the playful: orange, blue and white for the New York Knicks' home games.
The construction of the Empire State Building became part of a famous race for the title of the world's tallest building. The other two competitors: 40 Wall Street (the Trump Building) and the Chrysler Building were also under construction at the time. However, the Empire State Building broke all the records: built in the very speedy time of one year and 45 days (officially opened in May 1931) and at 102 storeys and 1,454 feet, it surpassed the Chrysler to become the world's tallest building. It was later usurped by the World Trade Centre, but today stands the tallest building in New York, if no longer the world.
The Empire State Building got its name from the city itself as it adopted New York's nickname 'the Empire State'. This comes from Henry Hudson, the English sea-faring explorer, who was said, on glimpsing New York for the first time, to have called it "the new empire".
To get to the top, elevators constantly take visitors to the observatory on the 86th floor - this takes over a minute. For an extra cost, those wanting to go a little further can take a second elevator to the 102nd floor, reopened in 2005, below the broadcast antennas. From either vantage point, be prepared.
The view is breathtaking (and windy) and on a clear day encompasses every district for over 80 miles. The vista presents the ideal opportunity to see the skyscrapers on a more equal footing and saves the neck snapping for another day. As all the major landmarks New York has to offer are laid out before the eyes: the Statue of Liberty and its harbour, the Hudson River, Central Park, the Chrysler Building, to name but a few, it's hard not to be awe-struck, so let it happen.
The official website states the least crowded visiting hours are around 8am or 3pm, varying with the season. Night time views are available as the Empire State Building stays open daily until 2am, apparently regardless of weather conditions, with live music available on certain nights throughout the summer.
Beware of the Skyride attraction: a ride situated on the lower entrance level, showing blurry, badly filmed images of New York. Although voiced by the affable Kevin Bacon, it isn't worth the extra expense, particularly when the genuine view awaits, so watch out for vendors desperately selling tickets outside the building and claiming you can queue-jump with them.
Although the GE Building's Top of the Rock viewing deck now rivals the Empire State Building's views, with the added bonus of offering views of Empire State itself, this remains the most iconic of the two and demands a visit.
For a list of all the films the Empire State Building has been a part of: http://www.esbnyc.com/esb_story_movies.asp
