The epitome of big buildings, billed as the Eighth Wonder of the World at its opening, the Empire State Building broke records in many categories, including height (1250 feet) and construction time (it took only one year and forty-five days to build).

Planned during the booming 1920's, it was constructed during the Depression. Largely vacant in its early years, it was said that the building relied on the stream of sightseers to the observation decks to pay its taxes.

On July 28, 1945, a ten-ton B-25 bomber, lost in the fog, slammed into the north wall of the 78th and 79th floors. The plane's wings were sheared off by the impact, while the fuselage and other parts tore through inner walls, some parts coming out the opposite side of the building. Despite massive holes in those two walls, as well as damage to two supporting steel beams, there was no important structural damage done to the building.

Stunning in both its height and simplicity, the building's sleek limestone and stainless steel design rises in a stunning series of setbacks ending with a bold seven-hundred foot tower, which was originally intended as a mooring dock for dirigibles. In 1950, the addition of a television antenna added another 225 feet to the building.

The Empire State Building's two-story high ground floor corridors are crossed at intervals by stainless steel and glass-enclosed bridges.

Since the World Trade Center disaster, the Empire State Building has regained it's title of tallest building in New York. Prior to the World Trade Center's construction, the Empire State Building was the highest point from which to broadcast radio and television signals. Once built, not only did the Trade Center towers block these signals, it also became the highest point from which to broadcast. Nearly all broadcasters moved their expensive equipment to the new twin towers.

Thirty-plus years later, broadcasters have relocated a good amount of their transmission equipment to the Empire State Building.