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Driving for Deco

We will drive anywhere to find great art deco..

Vanished New York City Art Deco: Longchamps

Late 1930’s matchbook cover from Longchamps. From the author’s collection.

In 1930’s Manhattan a chain of long forgotten restaurants brought café society elegance to the middle class. It all began when wholesaler Henry Lustig opened his first restaurant in 1919 at Madison Avenue and 78th Street. Being a race horse owner, Lustig decided to name his restaurant  Longchamps, after the famous Parisian racecourse. Longchamps specialized in offering an American version of French style cuisine at affordable prices. It met with fast success. By the mid 1920’s the company expanded, opening two new restaurants. One near the recently opened Saks Fifth Avenue, to cash in on the shopping trade.

In mid to late 1930’s the chain rapidly expanded, opening seven restaurants within five years. during this period longchamps began their relationship with german émigré artist winold reiss (1886 – 1953). reiss’ interior designs in four of these restaurants epitomized modern taste., 42nd street and lexington avenue – the chanin building, on january 23, 1935  the new york times announced the plans for the seventh restaurant in the longchamps chain:.

Louis Allen Abramson , architect, filed plans yesterday for an alteration in the Chanin Building , 122 East Forty-second Street. The changes will be made in space in the basement and first floor to be occupied by  a Longchamps Restaurant.

The first floor will be designed as a men’s grill, having an island bar eighty feet in circumference. The improvement will cost $100,000, the architect estimated. – The New York Times, January 23, 1935, Pg. 33. 

Winold Reiss, working in collaboration with architect Abramson, transformed the irregular shaped space into something special. Their use of mirrors, lighting, murals and a glamorous staircase combined to create a chic dining atmosphere.

Entrance on 42nd Steet to the Longchamps in the Chanin Building, circa 1935. Image from Pinterest.

May 15, 1935 The New York Times reported on the opening:

A new unit in the Longchamps chain of restaurants will be opened today. It occupies space on the ground floor and basement of the Chanin Building at Lexington Avenue and Forty-second Street. A feature of the decorations by Winold Reiss is a series of eight mural panels depicting garden scenes in the time of Louis XIV. – The New York Times, May 15, 1935, Pg. 40.

Advertisement for the Chanin Building Longchamps opening, May 15, 1935. From The New York Times.

A few days later the New York Post enthusiastically wrote:

AN ART, EATING – AT LONGCHAMPS

Glittering Lexington Avenue Restaurant’s a Feast to Eye as Well as Palate

When epicures die they may go to heaven but in the meantime they can always go to Longchamps, and especially the last and most glittering of the Longchamps restaurants in the Chanin Building on Lexington Avenue. 

It is a feast to the eye as well as the palate. The decor, we are told is based on that gayest and most wicked of periods in French history, the time before the Revolution when the courts were at their best and worst, when living was lavish and high and handsome.

And that is just the feeling that one gets on entering the cocktail salon of this Longchamps. The colors are vermilion, black and white, and it is safe to say you will never go out the same man!

A Vista of Gardens

A grand staircase leads to the dining room below, and at a turn of the stairs a vista of sunlit gardens is spread before your eyes. The famous designer, Winold Reiss, certainly knows his French gardens and has produced them to the life in the murals that encompass the room. – New York Post, May 19, 1935. Pg. 6

Winold Reiss’ Louis XV mural behind the Chanin Building’s Longchamps bar. Photograph by Robert M. Damora. Image from winoldreiss.org

Louis XV Mural 6′ x 6′ 4″ section. Image from winoldreiss.org

Upon its opening in May of 1935 the Chanin Building Longchamps was one of the largest restaurants in the area. The following year the New York Herald-Tribune reported:

Longchamps Chain to Occupy Additional Unit

The Restaurant Longchamps, which operated a unit in the Chanin Building, Lexington Avenue and Forty-second Street, have leased as additional space the store and basement at the southwest corner of the thoroughfares now occupied by Broadstreet’s. The enlarged restaurant will compare favorably in size of both restaurant and bar facilities with the chain’s new unit under construction at Broadway and Forty-first Street.  – New York Herald-Tribune,  June 9, 1936, Pg. 41 .

The same day The New York Sun reporting on the expansion remarked that the enlargement would make the restaurant the largest in the Grand Central District. By the time the renovations on East Forty-second were underway a new and even larger Longchamps was nearing completion across town on West Forty-first street.

41st street & broadway.

Longchamps restaurant at Broadway and 41st Street, circa 1937. Image from nyneon.blogspot.com .

Located in Ely Jacques Kahn’s Continental Building (1931), the new restaurant would be as modern as the building. For the decorative scheme inside this Longchamps Reiss chose to honor New York City’s past, present and future. Unfortunately there are not too many photographs that exist of the interior at this location. The news of the latest restaurant hit the papers on March 15, 1936:

Longchamps Restaurant Takes Lease of Street Floor in Continental Building

Longchamps announced yesterday it will open a branch restaurant in the Continental Building at the south-east corner of Broadway and Forty-first Street, in the Times Square section. The restaurant will be ready for the opening  of the theatrical season next fall. The entire interior of the premises will be made over. It was said yesterday that the restaurant will provide accommodation for 1,500 persons at one time. One feature of the new restaurant will be an oval-shaped bar which will be 200 feet long, one of the longest continuous drinking platforms in the city. More than 500 waiters, chefs, barmen and others will be employed in the establishment which, it was said yesterday, may be opened night and day. – New York Herald-Tribune, March 15, 1936, Pg. 11

New York Times advertisement for the opening day of the new Longchamps, describing the various NYC themes of the different rooms. Image from proquest.com

By late April with the awarding of construction contracts, alterations of the space began for the $500,000 restaurant. Architect Louis Allen Abramson created an outdoor cafe effect on the main floor by having the walls along Broadway and Forty-first street and the revolving door lowered to sub-street level. Of course the lowering of the walls only occurred during warm weather months. This proved popular and a couple of future Longchamps also included descending walls.

The Broadway facade at night, with the revolving door and windows in their up position. Photograph by Zimmerman. Image from Architectural Record, December, 1937. Downloadable from usmodernist.org

Diagram of the descending walls and revolving door. Image from Architectural Record, December, 1937. Downloadable from usmodernist.org

Zimmerman photograph of the 41st Longchamps showing the Broadway facade with the walls lowered. Image from Architectural Record, December, 1937. Downloadable from usmodernist.org

Like the last Longchamps, Winold Reiss received the commission for the interior design at the Forty-first Street location. Modern and contemporary throughout with silk batik and a series of murals by Reiss. These blue, white and gold murals would depict future Manhattan.

City of the future mural.

The Album Room of the Broadway and Forty-first Street Longchamps. Portraits of famous New Yorkers of the past, such as Lillian Russell and Diamond Jim Brady hung on the walls. Photograph by Robert Damora.

Abramson’s bold ceiling employed curves and levels. While giving the Album Room a very modern aesthetic, it also concealed the cove lighting. The ceiling curves matched those on the floor by mimicking the sinuous half wall (to divide seating areas) and steps.

Album Room ceiling detail showing mirrored column and cove lighting. Photograph by Robert Damora.

The new Longchamps opened its doors on October 13, 1936.  Due to its proximity to the Broadway Theatres and the Metropolitan Opera, it found immediate popularity. The following day The New York Times reported:

30 MEN TEND HUGE BAR

New Restaurant in Times Square Also Has Vast Wine Cellar.

One of the largest restaurants in the Times Square district, the tenth in the Longchamps chain, was opened last night in the Broadway Continental Building, with business executives and celebrities of the stage and screen in attendance.

New York’s growth and old favorites of Broadway are recalled in the murals and decorations of the restaurant, which features a wine cellar with a capacity of 120,000 bottles and an oval bar with thirty bartenders. 

In the cocktail lounge, murals depict important scenes in New York’s history and in the adjoining rooms, “dedicated to the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.” are large murals designed to show the city of the future. The Album on New Yorkers’ Room contains portraits of celebrities, including O. Henry, Florenze Ziegfeld and David Belasco.  – The New York Times, October 14, 1936, Pg. 28.

Several days later the New York Herald-Tribune had this to say:

New Longchamps a Smash

Record crowds (6,700 for luncheon alone) attended the opening of the new Longchamps at Broadway and Forty-first Street, Tuesday. The restaurant boasts air-conditioned kitchen and telephone booths, a huge oval bar and a glass street front that can be lowered on an elevator shaft. – New York Herald-Tribune, October 17, 1936, Pg. 8

Typical Menu, 1938

253 Broadway

The eleventh Longchamps at 253 Broadway, across from City Hall, 1938. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Across lower Broadway from City Hall the eleventh Longchamps became the most expensive and largest restaurant built-in New York City to date. Occupying space in the basement and first three floors of the 1892 Paragon Building, major structural changes were necessary to accommodate the restaurant. This Longchamps would be a “five-in-one”, meaning there were five separate restaurant units at this site. This new location could seat 1,163 people at one time.  Total cost of construction and interior design, $1,000,000, a first for the city.

Detail of the main entrance to the Longchamps at 253 Broadway. This shows the restaurant with the front wall lowered to create the sidewalk cafe effect. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Winold Reiss using over 2,000 square feet of wall space for murals, the decorative theme according to The New York Times :

. . . will be an interweaving of the types, customs and costumes of the nations of the world. The theme is intended to portray the international relationships with which the location traditionally has been associated. – The New York Times, July 21, 1937, Pg. 40

Winold Reiss’ huge two story mural just inside the main entrance to the restaurant. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

At this Longchamps and the following one Reiss worked in collaboration with famed New York City architect Ely Jacques Kahn. Kahn arranged the almost acre of space into a series of connected terraces. The terraces were arranged in such a way to allow views of the restaurant from any of the floors. This included the lifting of part of the second floor for the creation of a new mezzanine level.

Like all the recent Longchamps this one was a showcase of modern design. Black vitrolite and two stories of glass block crowned the main entrance. The use of the glass block flooded the second floor with natural light.

Third level interior showing the glass block front wall. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Other modern amenities would include complete air conditioning with an ionization plant to supposedly charge the air with a lively freshness, indirect lighting and an acoustical treatment to bring a quietness to the dining rooms.

Indirect lighting fixture and mirrored wall in the “Restaurant of the Old World” Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

A dinner for 1,500 guests formally opened the restaurant on March 22, 1938. Among the guests were former New York State governor Al Smith and the  models  who posed for the murals by Winold Reiss that adorned the walls. These models were present in the costumes that they wore in the murals and included a Chickahominy native from Virginia, girls from Tibet and Tahiti, a Utah cowgirl, a native of Sicily and citizens from several countries all who were living in New York at the time.

On the ground floor the “snug harbor bar” dominated the south side of the restaurant. even though “snug” was part of the name there was nothing snug about the very long bar running almost the entire length of the establishment. a novel feature was the lighting underneath the front edge illuminating the outside of the bar..

Back area of the “Snug Harbor Bar”, showing the indirect lighting above the bar. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Placed down in the basement the “Westward Ho! Grill” decorated in knotty pine provided a secluded area to dine and enjoy a cocktail. Lining one wall of the grill a mural depicting 15th Century ships sailing off to the New World gave the room its decorative theme.

Staircase from the ground floor down to the Westward Ho! Grill in the basement. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

The bar in the “Westward Ho! Grill”. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

A boldly painted staircase with a huge mural led up from the ground floor to the “Flying Bridge Cafe” on the newly built mezzanine level and the second floor.

The staircase and mural leading up to the “Flying Bridge Cafe” on the mezzanine. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Looking down to the ground floor from the “Flying Bridge Cafe”. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Continuing up the stairs from the “Flying Bridge Cafe” would take one to the third level where there were two more additional dining rooms. The dining space at the very top of the stairs was known as the “Far Eastern Terrace”.

The stairs going the the third level and the “Far Eastern Terrace’. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

The balance of the third level was taken up by “the Restaurant of the Old World”. This largest single dining space in the restaurant had murals by Reiss depicting the peoples and the customs of Europe.

Back section of the “Restaurant of the Old World”. Ezra Stoller photograph from esto.com

Like all the previous restaurants in the Longchamps chain this one was another success. While the first customers were filing into 253 Broadway in March of 1938, a 12th Longchamps was already under construction in the most famous building in the world.

The empire state building.

The Empire State Building, circa 1931. Image from NYPL Digital Collections.

The 12th and last Longchamps to open in the 1930’s was another collaboration between artist Winold Reiss and architect Ely Jacques Kahn. Unlike the previous Longchamps decorated by Reiss, the one in the Empire State Building would not have a particular theme, like pre-revolutionary France in the Chanin Building Longchamps or old world / new world in the one on lower Broadway near City Hall. The New York Sun reported on December 15, 1937 that Longchamps took a 21 year lease for space at the 5th Avenue and Thirty-fourth street corner of the Empire State Building. The space which had been vacant since the building opened in 1931, would be converted into an ultra modern restaurant with a seating capacity for 1,000.

Extras at the RKO studio in front of a rear projection screen in the 1939 film Love Affair. A corner of Longchamps can be seen in the background. Image from DVD.

The new restaurant occupied the entire northeast section of the first floor, basement and sub-basement. Missing the originally announced opening date of May 1st, Al Smith, president of Empire State, Inc. opened the restaurant on September 21, 1938. Smith said in his welcoming speech that he believed “ the architecture, decoration, service and food will do much to uphold the fine standards of Fifth Avenue and the Empire State area .”

It is especially noticeable at this Longchamps the changing style of interior decoration. Today, while this is still considered Art Deco, it comes near the end of that design era. Gone is the crazy exuberance and harsh angles of the 1920’s. By 1938 a new European influence is evident, popularized at the  Exposition Internationale des Arts et Techniques dans la Vie Moderne held in Paris, 1937. Design elements are softer, dominated by biomorphic forms and curves.

Winold Reiss sitting at a table beneath one of his murals in the lower level of the Empire State’s Longchamps. Ezra Stoller photographer. Image from winoldreiss.org.

An exuberantly painted bar greeted patrons on the ground floor. From there a large dining room filled the space at street level. To get down to lower levels a wide steel and mirror lined staircase led to the basement. Reiss continued the vermillion, cream and gold Longchamp color scheme at this latest location.

Ground floor bar. Ezra Stoller photograph from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York.

The dining room on the ground floor. Ezra Stoller photograph from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York.

The mirror lined staircase leading to the lower level dining area. Ezra Stoller photograph from the collection of the Museum of the City of New York.

With the opening of the Empire State location the Longchamps chain reached its peak.  Winold Reiss continued to receive commissions from Longchamps into the 1940’s and 1950’s for locations in New York City and else where. But after suffering a stroke in 1951 Reiss’ output would be greatly reduced. On August 23, 1953 Reiss died in New York City. As for Longchamps its fortunes would start to change after the Second World War.

Post second world war, it seems that longchamps proprietor, henry lustig, started cheating the irs in 1940. an audit in 1945 revealed that he and two of his associates had evaded paying $2,872,766.00 in taxes to the government. brought to trial in may, 1946 the case reached a verdict on june 20 of that year. when sentenced on july 10th, lustig had to pay $115,000.00 fine and received a four-year jail term..

Henry Lustig, 1946 at the time of his tax evasion trial. Photo from the New York Herald-Tribune.

In 1947 the government sold all of Longchamps stock to Valley Trust Co., nominee for the Springfield newspaper pension trusts and its subsidiary, Exchange Buffet Corp. Through the 1950’s Longchamps annual sales ran between $7,000,000.00 and $8,000,000.00 but lost money every year, except 1954 when it made a small profit of $7,258.00. Restaurateur Jan Mitchell acquired Longchamps in early 1959. He believed that the chain still held great potential. In 1950 Mitchell purchased the famous German restaurant, Luchow’s on 14th Street in Manhattan and tripled its business by the end of the decade.

Jan Mitchell serving up good cheer at Luchow’s in 1958. Photograph from The New York Times.

Beginning with the new decade it would be out with the old and in with the “Olde Tyme”. The interior decorations that were so modern and chic in the 1930’s had become tired and dated by 1960. The first change came to the lower level at the Longchamps in the Empire State Building. In honor of Luchows, Mitchell converted Reiss’ dining room into a Bavarian brauhaus. Martin Burden in his “Going Out Tonight? . . .” column in the New York Post described the room this way:

. . . the big terraced downstairs area becomes the Karneval Room, a gay and pleasant rathskeller. It stresses hearty German foods, big steins of imported beer, an oom-pa-pa band clad in lederhosen to provide the music, everything from ‘Ach, du Lieber Augustine’ to ‘You Are My Sunshine. There are souvenir hats, community sings, beer barrels, red-and-white checkered tablecloths, brightly colored paper streamers, huge confetti balls. Its cheery atmosphere should provide a fine attraction in the midtown section.  – New York Post, February 9, 1960, Pg. 51.

The Teutonic gaiety didn’t last very long and in the early months of 1964 the entire Empire State Longchamps underwent a complete renovation. And on April 16, 1964  “sailing” into the Empire State Building was Mark Twain’s Riverboat Restaurant. Do not be confused by the name, Mark Twain was not personally affiliated with the restaurant in any way.

Newspaper ad for the opening of Mark Twain’s Riverboat Restaurant. New York World-Telegram & Sun, April 15, 1964.

Now instead of offering classic Longchamp dishes, like sizzling platters or crepe suzette, one could order “Good Vittles”. And why enjoy just a regular old style cocktail when “Hard Likker” was now being offered which one might need to drown out all the “banjos a-plunkin'”. In his “Tips on Tables” in the  New York World-Telegram & Sun,  Bob Dana had this to say of the renovated restaurant:

Tuneful Debut For Riverboat

The Mark Twain Riverboat Restaurant, inspired by the life and works of the beloved American author, will be unveiled by Jan Mitchell tomorrow at Longchamps in the Empire State Building. There will be dancing to the music of Stan Rubin and his Riverboat Ramblers, with additional music by a costumed banjo group, which will promenade through both levels of the restaurant. 

Stage designer Oliver Smith has designed the restaurant, the main floor  of which is largely a recreation of a dining saloon of a steamer that Mark Twain might have piloted down the Mississippi. Adjacent to the dining room are remainders of the high-stake gambling that flourished on riverboats; the Gaming Room and Gambler’s Den. Over the deep mirrored stairwell leading to the lower floor is a large revolving replica of a paddlewheel, gleaning in the reflection of lights that outline a huge horseshoe bar. 

A large selection of dishes, adapted from foods popular along the Mississippi of Mark Twain’s day, have been added to the extensive Longchamps menu. – New York World-Telegram & Sun, April 15, 1964, Pg. 36.

The renovated restaurant proving to be a hit, inspiring more Longchamps renovations the next year. Oliver Smith transformed the Art Deco spaces into 1960’s versions of nostalgia. The Chanin Building’s pre-revolutionary France theme was out. Now a railroad decor took its place, due to the proximity of Grand Central Terminal across the street.

Jan Mitchell introduces Longchamps chef, John van Hooff to Irving and Murray Riese the new owners of the Longchamps chain, 1967. John Orris photograph from The New York Times.

When Mitchell sold the chain to the Riese Brothers in 1967 the end was in sight. The Riese Corporation already purchased another famous New York City chain, Childs, now they swallowed Longchamps.  By 1970 only one restaurant in the chain still operated under the Longchamps name. The holding company Longchamps, Inc. formally dissolved in 1975.

Like so much of new york city’s past, longchamps has vanished not only from the city but from most people’s memories. which is a shame, for it was the most stylish of all the city’s eateries..

The inside of a matchbook from Longchamps, late 1930’s. From the collection of the author.

Anthony & Chris (The Freakin’, Tiquen’ Guys)

If you enjoyed this post you might also like these earlier posts:, vanished new york city art deco: the persian room, the central park casino, joseph urban’s long, lost new york city night club.

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16 thoughts on “ Vanished New York City Art Deco: Longchamps ”

What a wonderful, complete report on this fascinating restaurant! More than once, I’ve wished for the Way Back Machine to experience some of these swanky eateries! Thanks for this, fellows! Great job!

Who wrote this article? Please contact me.

[email protected] .

As a youngster I ate at Longchamps Riverboat at least twice sometime in the mid to late 1960s. I have fond memories of that experience. What a classy place. A time gone by. Thanks for creating this site. It brought back memories.

My uncle was a waiter at the East 59th street Longchamps. Great memories!

I have another match book wit 3 matches…if you would like it let me know

So great to read about this. my grandfather was the executive chef of the chain in the 50’s and early 60’s. and I believe worked in the kitchen as early as 9 years old. .

Thank you for letting us know about your Grandfather’s connection with Longchamps. Members of my family had very fond memories of the Longchamps restaurants.

My grandfather was a bus boy in the 40’s at the Longchamp restaurant on 42nd and Lexington. He left Cuba in 1943 for New York. With his accent he always pronounced it as Long Chang so I thought he may have worked at a Chinese restaurant. But from his description and a video of him cleary saying the address it’s clear. Thank you sooo much for posting this history.

And thank you for sharing your grandfather’s story with us.

I actually have someplace pictures of that restaurant. it existed with the staircase to the basement level restaurant until about 10 years ago. then became clothing store, and now I think a CVS or something. During WW2 it was used for secret meetings downstairs. There was secret room in back on left where you pushed wall and it moved to secret room with no windows. it is where the undercover military people would meet with associates in NY. I found it and found the room. no one who worked there knew about it. the room was exactly how it was left in the 1940s, and this was around 2010 or so. I know all this from my Grandfather, Kal Lustig, who ran that location for his uncle, Henry Lustig. Henry Lustig wife was Edith Rothstein, Arnold Rothstein’s sister. he was partner in the restaurant at first, that he won in card game. Named after LONGCHAMPS in Paris as Arnold Rothstein was the big gambler, and owned Casino in Saratoga Springs. He is the same one who fixed World Series in 1919, exact year they opened Longchamps.

Wow, that is amazing story. Thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us.

If anyone has photos of the 42nd and Lexington location especially the front toilet or kitchen area. He is a Facebook link to a short video of my grandfather talking about it . https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid02wDKdEcHZ3unELuQmpZPC8gMre1WfnDLxsxY2CD5cBnpeSu1o4gXcxDBttzFHpfmwl&id=33401420&mibextid=OgCMUw

Wonderful, just a fluke finding this as a child I was brought to bombshells as a treat. I loved their napoleons. They were my favorite. The eclairs were next, and last was the Ba ba rum! GJN

That was a typo. It was a Longchamps

Meant to include that was 85 years ago. I am now 90.

I’m glad the post about Longchamps brought back some happy memories for you. Longchamps were favorites of my two aunts who went to them back in the 1930’s – 1960’s. And thank you for taking the time to share your memories with us. Anthony

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Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Empire State Building

Katie Calautti 10/12/2023

Opening Day. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

King Kong scaled it. An affair was remembered atop it. Buddy the Elf gallivanted through its Art Deco lobby. The Empire State Building is one of the most recognizable and visited structures in the world, welcoming millions of sightseers each year. And if you haven’t visited since 2019, it’s time to head back. That year the destination unveiled a massive $165 million reimagination of its Observatory Experience, which was just named the top attraction in the United States by Tripadvisor for the second year running.

You can visit exhibits on the second floor and the newly built 80th floor interactive multigallery museum, as well as the iconic 86th Floor Observatory and the entirely redesigned 102nd Floor Observatory. With floor-to-ceiling windows that frame sprawling views, you can see six states on a clear day—New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Delaware. To help you make the most of your visit, we spoke to an insider, Siobhan McShane. The longtime Empire State Building host gives guided tours of the attraction’s observation decks and historical artifacts. She shared a few of the more exciting and unexpected things you’ll find when you enter what's touted as the "World’s Most Famous Building.” Here are her tips about what you’ll see and how to maximize your visit:

King Kong. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

1. You can (and should!) preplan your trip

Reservations are required, so save time and money by purchasing your tickets online . Aside from the main observatory options, there are multiple special offerings, such as an All Access tour and Sunrise Experience. All ticket types include the open-air, 360-degree 86th Floor Observatory—the famous site of countless film and television scenes.

“The north and south views are definitely the most popular,” says MacShane, who’s been an observatory host for 19 years. “Guests love to look south to the Financial District and the harbor, and north at Central Park.”

102nd Floor Observation Deck. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

2. Do head up to the 102nd floor

“If you’re here, you should go to the very top!” MacShane continues. “The views are truly remarkable. You immediately see the stunning views as the elevator doors open, and it delivers a true sense of awe on guests’ faces as they see the entire city before they even step out of the elevator car.”

Wonder of the Modern World. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

3. Don’t rush through the indoor portions

While the views are exciting, make time to learn about the building’s storied history. “A lot of people rush through the new museum, which is actually one of the primary highlights of the visit,” says MacShane. “Before the reimagination, the only major part of the attraction was the incredible views, which are still unmatched to this day. The thing that sets us apart from other attractions and observatories, however, is our museum and our history. There isn’t a time limit, so take your time and enjoy it all!”

“Construction” exhibit. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

4. Appreciate how the Empire State Building was ahead of its time

MacShane says people are usually most surprised by the details surrounding the Empire State Building’s construction. “The fact that the entire building was completed in under a year and a month ahead of schedule amazes people,” she says. “Construction started March 17, 1930, and ended March 1, 1931. The building opened May 1, 1931, just 13 months after construction began.” The building was so high-tech when it first opened that it required changes to local laws. “The law at the time of opening stated that elevators could only go max 600 feet per minute, but ESB’s elevators went 800 feet per minute, so the law was updated,” she says. Also, “Wind tunnels under the building act as cooling for the lower floors. This is still the case today.”

Empire State Building at dusk. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

5. You might catch a meaningful moment…

It’s no surprise that people choose the stunning backdrop of the Empire State Building’s views for their most important occasions. “There’s no way I can count how many engagements I’ve seen—it has to be in the thousands,” says MacShane.

“Celebrity” exhibit. Courtesy, Empire State Building. Photo: Evan Joseph

6. …or even a celebrity!

On your way to the 86th floor, you’ll walk through an exhibit filled with photographs of famous visitors who’ve graced the observatory over the last 92 years. In 2022 alone, about 150 people of note walked the Empire State Building’s halls. Click here to book your tickets to visit the Empire State Building today.

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Everything You Need to Know About Visiting the Empire State Building

No iconic landmark like the Empire State Building can personify New York City. This 102-story skyscraper has defined the city’s landscape for decades now and is one of the most popular stops to check out! As a world-class destination, large crowds tend to flock to the Empire State Building year-round so planning a trip will cut down on needless wasted time. Make the most of your trip to this renowned structure by reading up on everything you need to know before you go!

How To Get There

The Empire State Building is located in the heart of Midtown Manhattan at 350 Fifth Avenue. Train routes will vary based on what line you’re taking: 

• ACE/123 trains: Get off at 34th Street Penn Station and walk five minutes to the building entrance. 
• NQRW or BDFM lines: exit the train at 34th Street – Herald Square Station and walk another five minutes.
•  456 or 7 lines, get off the train at Grand Central station then walk 10 minutes to the building’s entrance. 

There are also numerous bus routes in the area to choose from depending on where you’re located:  

• W 34 St & 5 Avenue: multiple buses including QM10, QM12, QM15, QM16, QM17 (etc.)
• 5 Av / W 34 Street: BxM7 and BxM18
• 5 Av/W 35 Street: X27, X28, X37, and X38

While driving isn’t recommended, if you’re arriving by car the closest garage is located on 33rd Street between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, just across the street from the building. 

Hours and Tickets

Visiting hours will differ depending on the month you decide to visit. 

• From January 4th - February 16th: hours of operation will run from 10 am - 9 pm, with entry doors closing at 8:15 pm. 
• From February 17th- March 8th: hours of operation will be from 10 am - 10 pm and entry doors will close at 9:15 pm. 

Check the Empire State Building’s official website for more information on the future hours of operation. Reservations are required to be permitted inside so book them online ASAP. Pricing will depend on how many visitors are in your party and what experience you’re seeking during a visit. 

For one person looking to explore the main deck of the 86th-floor observatory (which includes access to all the exhibits on the 2nd and 80th floors as well), tickets typically start at $44 for adults, $42 for seniors, and $38 for children. Top deck access tickets include the aforementioned perks plus access to the 102nd floor which comes out to $79 for adults, $77 for seniors, and $73 for children. Other packages offered are listed on the official site. 

Points of Interest

2nd floor observatory.

There are eight exhibits featured on this floor:

• The Site in the 1920s: Take a trip back in time and explore the city streets when the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel occupied the Empire State Building’s current location during the early 20th century. 
• Construction: Guests will be immersed in the efforts that went into creating the modern Empire State Building, greatly inspired by the historical photography of Lewis Hine.
• Opening Day: An attraction capturing the excitement of the Empire State Building’s initial opening to the general public in the 1930s. 
• Modern Marvel: An interactive exhibit highlighting the energy efficiency and environmental sustainability efforts that went into building the Empire State Building. 
• Urban Campus: Catch of glimpse into the workspaces and views frequented by employees that visitors normally don’t get to see. 
• World’s Most Famous Building: A 72-screen,180-degree multimedia exhibit displaying a 600-clip montage of the Empire State Building’s appearances in various commercials, films, TV shows, comics, and games. 
• Kong: Come and see the infamous hands of King Kong from the Eponymous 1933 movie and get a feel for what it might’ve been like to be inside the building as Kong scaled it!
• Celebrity: Some of the most famous visitors (athletes, musicians, actors) with their images and signed memorabilia adorning the walls are featured here.

80th Floor Observatory

The latest installation in the collection opened in 2019 as an entirely indoor attraction. Exhibits on this floor include:

• NYC: Above and Beyond: Create a personalized itinerary of attractions around the city based on your interests and the duration of your trip with this interactive exhibit.
• Artistry in Light: A short film detailing the creation of music and art shows at the Empire State Building.
• Stephen Wiltshire’s Drawing: A vastly detailed landscape drawing done by British Artist Stephen Wilshire entirely from his memory. 
• Scenes of NYC: Breathtaking scenery can be seen from the glass windows and through the classic viewfinders, visitors can check out panoramic views of nine famed New York locations.

86th Floor Observatory

There are no major exhibits on this floor but it is perfect for taking the perfect pictures of NYC from above. Indoor and outdoor viewing experiences are provided. You’ll be able to view the Manhattan skyline from here and it has been a popular setting for many movies and television shows over the years. 

102nd Floor Observatory  

Another floor with no dedicated exhibits but stunning views through floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll ride up to the Top Deck in the manually operated Otis elevator, watching the altitude gradually rise along the way. There’s no better way to get an aerial view of Central Park or the skyscrapers up to eighty miles away on a good day.  

Other Nearby Attractions

Central park.

This popular 843-acre Manhattan Park offers a reprieve from the concrete streets of New York! Lush greenery and noteworthy sights are plentiful. 

Statue of Liberty

Another must-see iconic landmark in NYC is open every day of the week. Tickets start at $23.50 including a tour of Ellis Island. 

The Museum of Modern Art (MoMA)

One of the largest and most influential institutions in the world boasting over 150,000 works of art. Popular artists include Frida Kahlo, Andy Warhol, and Pablo Picasso. 

Where to Stay Near the Empire State Building

The Langham, Hyatt Place, and RIFF Chelsea are all strongly recommended hotels for those looking to book a room while they’re in town. Check out booking.com for a comprehensive list of the best hotels to stay at in the area depending on your preferences and price range. 

Other Important Information 

Restrooms are available at the Empire State Building on the 86th floor, including wheelchair-accessible toilets. Expect to go through a security check similar to the airport when first entering the building. There is no coat check and only carry-on luggage is permitted. Glass, cans, bottles, flasks, professional camera equipment, sports equipment, musical instruments, alcoholic beverages, costumes and theatrical masks, and firearms are not allowed under any circumstances. An expansive list of prohibited items is available under the FAQ section of the official Empire State Building website.

Foldable strollers and prams are permitted at the Empire State Building and the lifts can accommodate them although there is no storage so you will have to carry them for the duration of your visit. There is a handicap-accessible entrance at 20 West 34th Street, where ramps and elevators can accommodate both motorized and non-motorized wheelchairs. Service dogs are also allowed on site, and the 86th floor features lowered viewing walls and binoculars. 

Najma Chavez

Born and raised in Brooklyn, Najma draws on her deep knowledge and passion for the New York City Metropolitan Area. She has written professionally for three years and is on track to finish her B.A. in English, Technical, and Professional Writing at Indiana University-East. When she’s not writing, you can find her spending time with friends, family, and her cat! She also likes to dedicate time to working out, reading books, wood carving, and volunteering part-time at her local animal shelter. 

Empire State Building: An architectural marvel in art deco style

The Empire State Building, standing tall in the heart of New York City, is not just a skyscraper; it’s an icon, a testament to human ambition, and a shining example of the Art Deco movement in architecture. Since its completion in 1931, it has captured the imagination of people worldwide, symbolizing the bustling energy of the city it calls home.

Historical background

The vision and the ambition

In the late 1920s, a race to the sky began in New York. Architects and magnates were eager to outdo each other, aiming to construct the world’s tallest building. The Empire State Building was born out of this ambition. Financed by John J. Raskob and Pierre S. du Pont, and designed by the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb & Harmon, the building’s plan was audacious from the start.

Construction marvel

The construction of the Empire State Building was a feat of engineering and human determination. Remarkably, the building took just over a year to complete, with workers adding an average of four and a half floors every week. This rapid construction was a testament to the efficiency and skill of the laborers and engineers involved.

Architectural brilliance

Art deco at its finest.

The Empire State Building is a prime example of the Art Deco style, characterized by its symmetrical, geometric designs, lavish ornamentation, and a celebration of modernity. The building’s spire, its terraced crown, and the intricate designs on its lobby are all hallmarks of this design movement.

Innovations and features

Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the Empire State Building was an architectural marvel of its time. It was one of the first buildings to use a framework of steel columns and beams, allowing it to reach unprecedented heights. The building also boasted fast Otis elevators, which were crucial in making such a tall building practical.

The towering spire: More than just aesthetic

One of the most recognizable features of the Empire State Building is its towering spire. Originally designed as a mooring mast for airships, the spire quickly became a symbol of the building’s dominance in the New York skyline. While the idea of airships docking at the building was soon abandoned due to safety concerns, the spire remained, adding to the building’s iconic silhouette.

The lobby: A gateway to grandeur

Stepping into the Empire State Building, visitors are immediately greeted by the grandeur of its lobby. Richly decorated with Art Deco motifs, the lobby is a testament to the era’s opulence. Murals depicting the building itself, along with celestial themes, adorn the ceiling, while the floor is made of imported marble. The lobby serves not just as an entrance but as a statement of the building’s significance and elegance.

Cultural impact and legacy

A symbol of hope.

Constructed during the Great Depression, the Empire State Building stood as a beacon of hope and resilience. At a time when the nation was grappling with economic hardships, the building’s completion was a testament to American ingenuity and perseverance. It symbolized the belief that even in the face of adversity, greatness could be achieved.

In popular culture

The Empire State Building has been immortalized in countless movies, TV shows, and literature. From its pivotal role in “King Kong” to being the romantic rendezvous point in “Sleepless in Seattle,” the building has become synonymous with New York City and its cultural fabric.

Modern significance

Today, the Empire State Building remains a vital part of New York City’s economy. It’s not just a tourist attraction but also a hub for businesses. Its observation decks offer unparalleled views of the city, making it a must-visit for tourists and locals alike.

Preservation and modernization

In the 21st century, efforts have been made to modernize the Empire State Building while preserving its historical significance. The building has undergone renovations to improve its energy efficiency, making it a model for sustainable retrofitting of historic structures. At the same time, its Art Deco features have been meticulously preserved, ensuring that the building remains a bridge between the past and the present.

Groundwork and foundation: Engineering marvels beneath the surface

Site challenges

The chosen site for the Empire State Building was previously occupied by the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel. Before any construction could begin, the old hotel had to be demolished, and the site had to be prepped for the new skyscraper.

Deep foundation

Given the immense height and weight of the proposed building, a deep foundation was essential. The foundation work involved sinking caissons deep into the Manhattan bedrock. These caissons, large watertight chambers, were used to excavate the soft soil and reach the solid bedrock below. Workers, known as “sandhogs,” would enter these chambers and dig out the soil, ensuring that the foundation would rest on solid ground.

The foundation extends more than 50 feet below street level, with the building’s weight distributed across 210 columns that directly rest on the bedrock. This ensured that the skyscraper had a stable base capable of supporting its immense weight and height.

Speed and efficiency:

Despite the challenges, the foundation work was completed at an astonishing pace. The entire process, from demolition of the old hotel to the completion of the foundation, took only a few months. This speed was a testament to the efficiency of the construction methods used and the dedication of the workforce.

Reinforced concrete

In addition to the deep foundation, the building’s sub-structures utilized a significant amount of reinforced concrete. This not only provided additional strength and stability but also ensured that the lower levels could support the weight of the 102-story structure above.

Weather and height

As the building rose, workers faced the challenges of high-altitude construction. Strong winds, cold temperatures, and the sheer height made working conditions treacherous. Despite these challenges, the construction team maintained an impressive pace, a testament to their skill and determination.

Is there a river under Empire State Building?

The idea that there’s a “river” beneath the Empire State Building is a popular urban legend, but it’s not entirely accurate. The myth suggests that the building’s foundation sits atop a flowing river or body of water, which has been cited by some as a reason for the building’s stability. However, this is not the case.

• Manhattan Schist: The foundation of the Empire State Building is anchored in Manhattan schist, a very solid and dense metamorphic rock. This bedrock is what allows Manhattan to support the weight of its many skyscrapers. The bedrock is not uniform, and in some places, it’s closer to the surface than in others. In the case of the Empire State Building, the bedrock was found relatively close to the surface, which made it an ideal location for such a tall structure.
• Water Table: Like many parts of Manhattan, the site of the Empire State Building does have a high water table. During the construction, workers would have encountered water as they dug down to reach the bedrock. However, this is not a “river” in the traditional sense. It’s simply groundwater that is present in many parts of the city. Proper foundation and construction techniques ensured that this water did not pose a threat to the building’s stability.
• Engineering Solutions: To deal with the groundwater and ensure a solid foundation, the builders used caissons, which are large watertight structures. These were sunk down to the bedrock, and the water was pumped out, allowing workers to excavate and lay the foundation in a dry environment.

In conclusion, while there is no river flowing beneath the Empire State Building, the presence of groundwater and the techniques used to manage it during construction might have given rise to this myth. The building’s stability is not due to any body of water but rather the result of expert engineering and its anchoring in the solid Manhattan schist. The photo below, taken underneath the building, provides a glimpse into the foundational structures and the environment beneath this iconic skyscraper.

Architectural influence: Setting a precedent

The Empire State Building set a new standard for skyscraper design. Its blend of functionality and aesthetic appeal became a model for subsequent high-rise constructions. The building’s use of a steel frame, combined with its Art Deco design, influenced architects worldwide.

The race to the sky

The completion of the Empire State Building reignited the race to construct the world’s tallest building. For nearly 40 years, it held this title, only to be surpassed in the early 1970s. However, its influence persisted, with architects and builders continually drawing inspiration from its design and engineering feats.

The Empire State today: A living legacy

While newer, taller skyscrapers have since emerged, the Empire State Building retains its iconic status. It’s not just a relic of the past but a living legacy, continually adapting to the times. The building has embraced modern technology with its state-of-the-art LED lighting system. Comprising over 16 million colors, these LED lights have the capability to produce dynamic light shows that can be customized for various events and holidays.

This advanced lighting system not only allows for a vast array of color combinations but also ensures energy efficiency. The Empire State Building often uses this feature to commemorate significant events, raise awareness for causes, and celebrate holidays, making it a vibrant participant in the city’s daily life.

Moreover, the Empire State Building remains a hub for innovation. Its recent renovations have made it a leader in sustainability, showcasing how historic structures can be retrofitted to meet modern environmental standards.

Global recognition: An icon beyond borders

Awards and accolades.

From the moment of its completion, the Empire State Building garnered international attention and acclaim. It was not just an architectural marvel but a symbol of human achievement. Over the years, the building has received numerous awards, including recognition from the American Institute of Architects and designation as a National Historic Landmark.

A global icon

The Empire State Building’s influence extends far beyond the shores of the United States. It has become a symbol of urban achievement and is often cited in discussions about urban planning and high-rise construction worldwide. Its silhouette is instantly recognizable, making it one of the most photographed structures globally.

The future of the Empire State Building

Adapting to a changing world.

In an ever-evolving cityscape, the Empire State Building continues to adapt and innovate. Recent renovations have focused on making the building more energy-efficient, reducing its carbon footprint, and ensuring its relevance in the 21st century. These efforts have earned it LEED Gold certification, a testament to its commitment to sustainability.

A hub for innovation

The Empire State Building is not just a monument to the past; it’s a beacon for the future. The building’s management continually seeks ways to enhance its offerings, from state-of-the-art office spaces to immersive visitor experiences. The recently renovated observatory, for instance, offers augmented reality experiences, allowing visitors to delve deeper into the building’s history and the city it overlooks.

Preserving the legacy

While the Empire State Building continues to evolve, there’s a concerted effort to preserve its historical integrity. Any modifications or renovations are done with the utmost care, ensuring that the building’s Art Deco charm remains intact for future generations.

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Find cool historical tidbits about the beloved 102-story structure known as the Empire State Building—and some stellar shots of NYC from atop it, too—by clicking through our slide show.

The Empire State Building stands (spire included) 1,454 feet tall. It surpassed the Chrysler Building to become the tallest building in the world in 1931, a title it held until the World Trade Center’s North Tower was completed in the early ’70s.

More New York attractions

In 1930, photographer Lewis Hine snapped this shot of a laborer fastening the building’s steel beams. Construction lasted a mere 11 months and employed more than 3,000 workers.

When this photo was taken in 1930, workers had constructed the first 40 floors of the building.

In 1945, an airplane crashed into the building’s north side during heavy fog, killing 14 people. In this photo, workers cover a hole from the accident on the south side of the building.

Check out this shot of lower Manhattan from the Empire State Building’s 86th-floor observatory . The Empire State Building has two observation decks—an open-air one on the 86th floor and an enclosed one on the 102nd floor.

Here is a view facing north from atop the 86th-floor observatory.

This is a view facing the East River from the 86th-floor observatory.

This view from the 86th-floor observatory that overlooks the Hudson River.

In our roundup of the top 50 New York City photographs , Art editor Howard Halle described William Klein’s Atom Bomb Sky, New York , which prominently features a towering Empire State Building, as follows: “At the height of the Cold War [1955], Klein rather cheekily bestowed an apocalyptic title to this image of the sun peeking through the haze as it crests over midtown; but it endures as a representation of New York’s splendor.”

Here’s Halle again, writing about Berenice Abbott’s photograph New York at Night : “Taken from an upper floor of the Empire State Building at dusk just before Christmas, 1932, this image imparts a magical twinkle suitable for the season, thanks to a special developer Abbott used to render the contrasts between light and dark.”

There are three levels of lights atop the Empire State Building and up to nine colors can illuminate at a time. This rainbow-colored lighting scheme celebrates Pride Week . Track the Empire State Building’s lighting schedule over at the building’s official site .

Red, white and blue lights illuminate the top of the Empire State Building to mark the Fourth of July.

All three tiers of lights turn green for St. Patrick’s Day.

The Empire State Building has been referenced in pop culture far too many times to mention here. But we’d be remiss not to include the ending of 1933’s King Kong , a film that nabbed the seventh spot on our 100 best NYC movies feature. In it, writer Alison Willmore notes, “Any list of New York films has to include one of the most famous images of the city ever committed to celluloid: the giant stop-motion ape beating his chest atop the Empire State Building and swiping at the biplanes that have come to take him down.”

In 1964, Andy Warhol released the eight-hour film Empire , which consists solely of an uninterrupted shot of the Empire State Building.

The cover of Michael Chabon’s Pulitzer Prize–winning novel, The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay , depicts an exaggerated, towering image of the Empire State Building.

In our Secrets of classic New York issue, writer Rebecca Dalzell notes that “an unmarked door on the 102nd-floor observation deck conceals one of the most impractical secrets of [the Empire State Building]. Although visitors can't access it, a set of steps leads to a narrow terrace that was once intended to be a docking station. Airships were supposed to moor at the tip of the mast, and passengers would be able to alight there. (But don't be fooled—though this image illustrates what such an event might have looked like, it's a fake.)”

A full renovation of the Empire State Building’s lobby, which re-created its original Art Deco design, was completed in 2009.

Here is a close-up of the lobby’s anemometer, which took the place of the clock above the Empire State Building’s information desk during the restoration.

Check out the lobby’s original 1931 ceiling mural.

The Empire State Building’s elevator bank is to the left. It takes less than a minute for express elevators to shoot up from the lobby to the 86th-floor observatory.

Last summer, the permanent exhibit “Dare to Dream,” which details the building’s design and construction, opened on the Empire State Building’s 80th floor. Free with admission to the 86th-floor observatory .

New York attractions: Empire State Building (SLIDE SHOW)

Take a photo tour of the Empire State Building, one of the most famous New York attractions, and learn about the landmark’s fascinating history.

Just try imagining New York City’s skyline without the Empire State Building . Pretty tough, huh? Since its completion in 1931, this marvel of engineering has remained one of the city’s most iconic sites and a visible reminder to Gothamites that they’re home. Click through the slide show above for photos of the Empire State Building’s construction, the aftermath of the 1945 plane crash and other historical moments, as well as sweeping views of the city from atop one of our favorite New York attraction ’s observation decks.

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The Empire State Building is more than a spectacular view. It's an immersive experience inside a world famous landmark.

From early morning to sunset and the bright lights of NYC at night, the 86th floor of New York's most iconic skyscraper gives you exhilarating 360-degree views of the city and beyond. Enjoy the views of The Hudson River, and East River, The Brooklyn Bridge, Times Square, The Statue of Liberty and much more, take advantage of the high-powered binoculars to get a closer look. On a clear day you can see up to six states. The special experience starts in the new 34th Street Visitors Center, a spacious venue designed for visitors to clear security and gain ticket entry. (E-tickets to be presented)

The stairway takes you past the large model of world’s most famous building to the exciting New 2nd Floor Exhibits featuring new immersive and interactive exhibits that allow you to be transported back in time to see the site in the 1920s and see the construction crews as they work and take their lunch break high above the city below. You can walk into an office from the 1930s where King Kong’s fingers pierce the walls as he dangles from the building, perhaps even dare to sit in his hand. Take your time and look at the 70 screens displaying highlights of ESB's starring role in pop culture from every decade since the 1930s.

From 2nd Floor the express lift takes you smoothly to the top, way above 5th Avenue, in just 45 seconds, enjoy the spectacular and unforgettable views.

Empire State Building Observatory

20 West 34th Street, New York, NY 10018, USA

• Oct 23 - Nov 22: 10:00 am - 10:00 pm Last ticket sold 8:45 pm to 9:00 pm Entry Door Closes 9: 15 pm
• Nov 23 - Nov 26: 9:00 am - 11 pm Last ticket sold 9:45 pm - 10 pm Entry Door Closes 10:15 pm
• Nov 27 - Dec 21: 10 am - 10 pm Last ticket sold 8:45 pm to 9:00 pm Entry Door Closes 9: 15 pm
• Dec 22 - Dec 30: 8 am - 1 am Last ticket sold 11:45 pm - 12 am Entry Door Closes 12:15 am
• Dec 31: 8:00 am - 11:00 pm Last ticket sold 9:45 pm - 10 pm Entry Door Closes 10:15 pm m

The last elevators are 45 minutes before closing time.

The Empire State Building has a timed entry system, which requires all visitors to have a pre-reserved entry time. You must bring the timed reservation ticket you will receive after you make your reservation. The Empire State Building personnel will NOT be able to admit you without the timed reservation tickets.

$10 per person surcharge applies for sunset visit times.

Watch CBS News

Secrets of the Empire State Building from the very top, underneath and in the lighting control room

Updated on: November 27, 2019 / 10:13 AM EST / CBS News

As part of the exclusive behind-the scenes look at the Empire State Building renovations , "CBS This Morning" co-hosts Gayle King, Anthony Mason and Tony Dokoupil got a look at some of the wonders of the iconic New York building. Each one visited a special part of the building that most visitors never see from dozens of feet underground to the 104th and a half floor.

Here's what they learned about the building:

The very top

Dokoupil went to the highest floor, "where no visitor goes," said Tom Durels, the executive vice president of real estate for the Empire State Realty Trust.

"You may think the Empire State Building has a 102 stories, but there's another secret floor, the 103rd," Dokoupil said.

"That's where VIP visitors go," Durels said, but he and Dokoupil went higher than that. "We're going to step outside where no logical person would go."

Dokoupil and Durels took the last elevator to the 102nd floor. Then, they climbed some ladders to what's considered 104.5 stories up and stepped outside through a hatch, where they were harnessed to the building.

"Wow. I'm at the same level as that helicopter right there," Dokoupil said.

"On a clear day you can see five states, 80 miles in all directions," Durels said.

"I'm getting a fluttery feeling just being up here. This is unbelievable. Wow," Dokoupil said.

"We're at the base of ... the structure that supports 25 TV and radio stations … and the pinnacle of the antenna is at 1,453 feet elevation," Durels said. "This … was originally built as a mooring mast … and the concept was … they were going to dock dirigibles here … but the hidden truth was that they built the mooring mast so that they could claim to be the tallest … building in the world at the time … and outdo the Chrysler Building that was being built."

"This was all an effort to beat the guys building that building over there?" Dokoupil asked.

"Absolutely," Durels said.

"And you know what? We're looking down on that building. This is definitely a win for the Empire State Building," Dokoupil said.

Underground

Mason went below the Empire State Building with Dana Schneider, senior vice president and director of energy and sustainability at Empire State Realty Trust, to see where a river once ran underneath.

"Dana and I have made it all the way down here to the river level of the Empire State Building, but it doesn't really look much like a river, Dana," Mason said.

"Nope, there's not a running river in the Empire State Building, but the Empire State Building is built above … ancient underground waterways, which run throughout Manhattan … On a very rainy or very snowy day, the river might seep up a little farther … When we drain down our system, sometimes we actually get a foot or two of water in here still, but it used to be far more than it is now. As you can see, sometimes the water's been as much as five or six feet," Schneider said.

"You call this the wind tunnel," Mason said. "Why?"

"It was engineered to bring in fresh air, outside air and cold air through the wind tunnel, and to supply the lower levels of the building … before we had any kind of air conditioning," Schneider said. "The Empire State Building, it's built in 1931, it's a historically preserved building, and yet, now, today, it's one of the most efficient buildings in the country."

The control room

King got a look at the lighting control room with CEO of the Empire State Realty Trust Tony Malkin to see how the lights on the tower shine every night.

"When did you first start lighting the building?" King asked.

"There have been all sorts of different lights on the building … but the bottom line is that serious lightening didn't take place with colors until the bicentennial," Malkin said. 

"Who gets to decide the color?" King asked.

"So, we get far more requests for lightings than we have days in the year," Malkin said. "And there's a committee … applications come in. People can apply on our website."

"But I always thought because you were CEO of the building that you're sitting there going, 'I'll decide who gets the lighting.' But it doesn't work like that," King said.

"No. I have a lot of other things I gotta do," Malkin said.

"Now, don't take this the wrong way, Tony, but when I walked in the room, I was surprised at the simplicity of the room. … I don't know why I expected something that was going to be lights, camera, action," King said.

"Well, you know, even the Wizard of Oz just had a bunch of levers in the end, right?" Malkin said.

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Climb up the Empire State Building: Magnificent Views and Tips

Discover breathtaking views by climbing the Empire State Building! In this article, you can learn about the tips offered by the building

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic structures in New York City. Completed in 1931, this skyscraper held the title of the world's tallest building with 102 floors and a height of 381 meters. Today, it is still one of the most popular tourist attractions in New York. Climbing the Empire State Building is one of the best places to see the magnificent views of New York City. The observation deck on the 86th floor of the building offers visitors a panoramic view of the entire city. Central Park, the Hudson River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many other famous places are among the spectacular views from this terrace. The best times to climb the Empire State Building are early in the morning or late in the evening. During these hours, there are fewer crowds and the views are clearer. Also, by purchasing your tickets in advance, you can avoid long lines. Before climbing the Empire State Building, it is important to check the weather. On a cloudy or rainy day, the clarity of the views may be reduced. Also, on hot summer days, it is important to wear comfortable clothes due to the crowded terrace and high temperatures. Climbing the Empire State Building is one of the most unforgettable experiences in New York City. With its magnificent views and tips, it provides visitors with an unforgettable experience.

Tips for Capturing the Best Views from the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic structures in New York City and is visited by millions of tourists every year. The building was completed in 1931 and has remained one of the tallest buildings in the world since then. Here are some tips for capturing the best views from the Empire State Building:

1. First, buy your tickets in advance. Since the building is visited by thousands of tourists every day, buying your tickets in advance can help you avoid long lines.

2. Second, choose the best time to capture the best views. During the daytime, you can see all of Manhattan's views. However, sunset and nighttime views are also quite impressive.

3. Third, choose the best places to capture the best views. The observation deck on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building is one of the best places to capture the best views. Additionally, the observation deck on the 102nd floor also offers spectacular views.

4. Fourth, find the best angles for taking photos. To capture the best views of the Empire State Building, you need to find the best angles for taking photos. This may sometimes require a bit of trial and error.

5. Finally, to fully experience the views of the Empire State Building, it may be a good idea to go with a tour guide. Tour guides can help you learn more about the building and capture the best views.

By following the above tips, you can have an unforgettable experience capturing the best views from the Empire State Building, one of New York City's most iconic structures.

What You Need to Know Before Climbing the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous symbols of New York City and is visited by millions of tourists every year. This 102-story skyscraper was completed in 1931 and has remained one of the tallest buildings in the world since then. The building offers visitors magnificent views and is considered one of the most iconic structures in New York City.

There are some important points to know before visiting the Empire State Building. First, it is recommended to purchase your tickets in advance. Since the building is visited by thousands of tourists every day, purchasing tickets in advance can help you avoid long lines. Tickets can be purchased from the Empire State Building's official website or from ticket booths at the entrance of the building.

Second, there are some rules inside the building for visitors' safety. For example, smoking inside the building is prohibited and your bags may need to be searched for security reasons. Additionally, taking photos inside the building is allowed, but special permission is required to use professional photography equipment.

When you reach the top of the Empire State Building, you can enjoy the magnificent views. The observation deck on the 86th floor offers views of all of New York City. Visitors can see Central Park, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many other famous structures.

In conclusion, the Empire State Building is one of the most famous symbols of New York City and there are some important points for visitors to keep in mind. Purchase your tickets in advance, follow the rules inside the building, and enjoy the magnificent views. Plan a visit to the Empire State Building to experience this unforgettable experience.

Enjoy the pleasure of going up to the Empire State Building in New York

New York is one of the most famous cities in the world and is visited by millions of tourists every year. There are many tourist attractions in the city, but none are as impressive as the Empire State Building. This building has become a symbol of New York and is one of the places visitors must see.

The Empire State Building was built in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world at that time. Today, it is still one of the tallest buildings in New York and holds an important place in the city's skyline. The building has 102 floors and visitors can go up to the top floor. This floor is the 86th floor and offers visitors a magnificent view.

Climbing the Empire State Building is one of the most enjoyable activities to do in New York. When visitors reach the top floor of the building, they can see all the beauty of the city. The historic buildings of Manhattan, the greenery of Central Park, and the blue waters of the Hudson River are among the views that visitors will admire.

The best time to climb the Empire State Building is at sunset or at night. During these hours, the city lights up and the night view of New York becomes an unforgettable experience for visitors. In addition, there are many restaurants and cafes on the top floor of the building. You can have a pleasant evening with a magnificent view by eating at these places.

In conclusion, the Empire State Building is one of the places that must be seen in New York. By climbing to the top floor of the building, you can watch all the beauty of the city and have an unforgettable experience. Visiting at sunset or at night will make this experience even more special.

Best Spots to See from the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic structures in New York City and one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world. This 102-story building is located in the center of Manhattan and was completed in 1931. Due to its height and location, the Empire State Building has one of the best views in New York City. In this article, we will explore the best places to see from the Empire State Building.

The observation deck located on the top floor of the Empire State Building has one of the best views in New York City. From here, you can see the magnificent views of Central Park, the Hudson River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many other famous places. We recommend buying your tickets in advance before going up to the observation deck so that you don't have to wait in long lines.

Top of the Rock, located on the 86th floor of the Empire State Building, is another observation deck with one of the best views in New York City. From here, you can see the magnificent views of Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Chrysler Building, and many other famous places. We recommend buying your tickets in advance before going up to Top of the Rock so that you don't have to wait in long lines.

Skydeck, located on the 102nd floor of the Empire State Building, is the highest observation deck in New York City. From here, you can see the magnificent views of Central Park, the Hudson River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many other famous places. We recommend buying your tickets in advance before going up to Skydeck so that you don't have to wait in long lines.

In conclusion, the Empire State Building has one of the best views in New York City. From the observation decks, you can see the magnificent views of Central Park, the Hudson River, the Brooklyn Bridge, and many other famous places. By buying your tickets in advance, you don't have to wait in long lines. Visiting the Empire State Building is one of the most unforgettable experiences in New York City.

Things to Consider When Climbing the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous symbols of New York City and is visited by millions of tourists every year. However, there are some important things to consider before going up the building.

Firstly, we recommend that you buy your tickets in advance. The building can often have long queues due to heavy tourist traffic. By purchasing your tickets in advance, you can save time and energy.

Secondly, it is important to check the weather. As the observation platform at the top of the Empire State Building is outdoors, it can be dangerous to visit in windy or rainy weather. By checking the weather, you can have a safe visit.

Thirdly, we recommend that you only bring necessary items with you. There is a storage facility where you can leave your bags and large items, but this service is chargeable. By only bringing necessary items, you can save money and have a more comfortable visit.

Finally, prioritize safety during your visit. The Empire State Building is tightly controlled for security. Follow the instructions of security personnel and do not engage in any suspicious behavior.

The Empire State Building is one of the most famous tourist attractions in New York City. However, there are some important things to consider during your visit. By following the above tips, you can have a safe and enjoyable visit.

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The Empire State Building: A Bird's Eye View of Midtown Manhattan Rooftops and Skyline

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The Empire State Building: A Bird’s Eye View of Midtown Manhattan Rooftops and Skyline

The Empire State Building has captivated visitors for over nine decades. Rising 1,454 feet over Midtown, this art deco masterpiece offers unparalleled views that highlight New York City’s eclectic architecture and dynamic cityscape. Let’s take a fascinating look through the building’s history, its place in pop culture, and the sights visible from its world-famous observatories.

Empire State Building Construction & Architecture

Early planning and designs.

Can you envision what New York City was like in the late 1920s? Back then, the iconic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel sat on the site where the Empire State Building now stands tall. But in 1928, the hotel owners sold the property for $14-16 million. The buyer? A group called Empire State Inc., with former New York Governor Al Smith at the helm. Their vision? To construct a towering 80-story, 1,000+ foot skyscraper that would claim the crown as the world’s new tallest building. The ambitious project truly captured the zeitgeist of 1920s America.

Several revisions later, the final plans expanded to 102 floors soaring 1,250 feet high. The renowned architecture firm Shreve, Lamb and Harmon spearheaded the art deco design. Inspired by contemporary structures like the Daily News Building, they devised a sleek shape with distinctive setbacks. With a budget of $50 million and an unbelievable timeline of just 18 months, it was full steam ahead!

Nuts and Bolts: Building a Modern Marvel

Let’s fast-forward to March 1930 when demolition and excavation commenced on the old hotel site. Construction kicked into high gear, with crews working round the clock erecting over four floors per week! The project required tons of materials like limestone, granite, steel, aluminum, bricks, and glass. Contractors like Starrett Brothers and Eken coordinated delivery of truckloads of supplies daily. Innovations like temporary rail tracks and hoists maximized efficiency. By October, steelwork reached the 64th floor. And by April 1931, a mere 13 months from groundbreaking, riveters drove the final gold-colored ceremonial rivet home. The ambitious Empire State Building officially topped out ahead of schedule and under budget, accomplishing one of the fastest “race into the sky” construction feats ever.

Art Deco Design Details

Crowning the Empire State is its sleek art deco tower and spire. The façade itself contains over 6,500 windows arranged in vertical sections with chrome-nickel steel mullions. This helps create a striking, slender pencil-like silhouette. The building’s series of setbacks allowed for maximum light, air circulation, and open city views from the interior spaces. Limestone imported from Indiana gives the Empire State its iconic golden-hued blonde color. And special floodlights accentuate its crown after dark.

Inside, the Fifth Avenue lobby entrance still captivates with its soaring three-story height and dazzling aluminum relief sculpture depicting the skyscraper. Marble, metalwork, glazed brick, and terracotta details retain the original 1930s style. And dotted throughout the floors are nearly 2,000 storefronts and shops ringing the central office space.

From the needle-like mast to the sleek limestone and chrome exterior to the glorious art deco lobby, the Empire State Building remains a breathtaking testament to 1930s modernist architecture.

Interior Infrastructure & Observatory Decks

Of course, the Empire State Building wouldn’t be complete without its famed viewing platforms. On the 80th floor, interactive exhibits and a panel of the skyline recreated in 5,000 crystals now greet modern visitors. Heading up to the 86th floor, the open-air observation deck offers panoramic city vistas. Finally, the renovated 102nd floor observatory debuted floor-to-ceiling glass windows in 2019 that completely immerse you in views of the Manhattan horizon. Broadcasting equipment and antennas cap the mast and spire above.

Originally coal-fired boilers provided heating, later upgraded to cleaner, quieter modern systems. An electrical substation and generators offer backup comforts like air conditioning, light, hot water and elevators even in blackouts. Talk about forward-thinking planning and design back in 1931!

Views from the Empire State Building

Of course, the main attraction luring over 4 million visitors a year are the unparalleled views. Let’s preview some sights in each direction from the world’s most iconic vantage point:

360° Orientation

Getting your bearings straight is key before you begin exploring the landscape unfurling around you. Heading north reveals Central Park and the Upper West Side neighborhoods. The famous East River, Queensboro Bridge and Citigroup Building sit prominently northeast. Glancing right finds the green expanse of Bryant Park, while southward sits the Garment District and Chelsea neighborhoods all the way to Lower Manhattan. Finally, the Hudson River flows due west beyond bustling Hudson Yards.

North: Upper Manhattan Landmarks

Looking north, you can glimpse Yankee Stadium hovering above industrial Harlem in the hazy distance. Closer by lies Morningside Heights, home to Columbia University and the soaring Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Grand buildings like The Ansonia dominate the Upper West Side, while verdant Central Park stretches for miles. On a clear Fall day, you may even spot vibrant foliage blanketing the park.

Of course, the legendary skyline steals your gaze northeast. The Chrysler Building still gleams like a sentinel keeping watch. Rockefeller Center’s Art Deco towers poke between Midtown giants, as the tip of the One World Trade Center Freedom Tower pierces the heavens beyond the MetLife and Citigroup buildings. It’s incredible grasping the sheer scale and variety!

East: Bridges, Buildings and Boroughs

Glancing right, you behold the East River carving its way between Manhattan and Brooklyn/Queens. The iconic Queensboro Bridge stretches across the waterway, alive with traffic. Roosevelt Island and older Victorian structures dot the riverbanks. The colossal Citigroup Building dominates this side of Midtown, its unique roof sloping towards Lexington Avenue behind it.

Further south, Lower Manhattan almost resembles a forest of glass, steel and stone. The Financial District contains soaring towers like 70 Pine Street flanked by early 20th century icons. The Statue of Liberty lifts her golden torch above the harbor southward. And rising behind, Silvercup Studios’ namesake sign winks from across the river in Long Island City, Queens.

South: Herald Square to Lower Manhattan

Scanning south from the Empire State Observatory takes you over the Garment District and Chelsea neighborhoods, then across Greenwich Village before reaching the canyons of Lower Manhattan. In between, you can spot Madison Square Garden just above Koreatown’s flatiron buildings. The shadows of New York University and hip East Village stand out. Farther down, SoHo’s cast-iron facades mix with modern giants like One and Three World Trade Center. FiDi’s stone temples give way to the Battery’s leafy park tipped by Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty’s crown.

This view highlights New York City’s eclectic architecture, from the Midtown bridges, the village’s brownstones and the Financial District’s soaring new skyscrapers. The green oasis of Battery Park even brings nature into this concrete kingdom.

West: Waterfront from Hudson Yards to New Jersey

The Hudson River panorama facing New Jersey represents NYC’s other shoreline. In the foreground, Hudson Yards now dominates the scene as the new West Side mega-development. Its centerpiece, the angular Vessel climbing structure, looks tiny from this height! Beyond the rail yards, you can trace the Jersey City waterfront lined with gleaming towers like Goldman Sachs, as the Palisades cliffs loom on the horizon.

Dining Near the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building’s prime location puts it within walking distance of some of NYC’s hottest restaurants . Indulge in incredible eats without ever traveling far, including:

Sesamo – This modern Asian-Italian spot delights Hell’s Kitchen crowds with creative takes on chicken, eggplant and more using seasonal ingredients.

Wolfgang’s Steakhouse – Carnivores flock here for Porterhouses, creamed spinach and power lunches in an old-school steakhouse setting.

Koreatown – New York’s vibrant K-Town kicks off two blocks west with Korean BBQ spots like Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong dishing up banchan, noodles and karaoke.

Eataly – A quick taxi ride south, Eataly’s Birreria exudes Italian flavor with house-brewed beer and wood-fired pizza against skyline views worth the trip!

With award-winning global eats surrounding its very doorstep, visitors can refuel on fabulous flavors between adventures at Gotham’s greatest art deco icon. The Empire State Building certainly anchors itself in a prime NYC location in more ways than one!

Broadcasting History & Communication Infrastructure

Of course, the Empire State Building is more than just a pretty façade. As one of New York City’s original supertall skyscrapers, its central location and lofty height have lent themselves to infrastructure and broadcast needs since Day One:

Antennas Crown NYC’s Radio & TV Airwaves

After opening in 1931, the building’s mast was briefly considered for docking dirigibles before technicians began installing equipment for broadcasting in the 1930s. By 1950, a 200-foot transmission tower topped the spire to transmit signals for all the city’s TV and radio stations. Broadcast antenna now ring up and down the entire mast from the 80th floor up past the 102nd floor observatories. Pretty impressive, considering the infrastructure meshes seamlessly with visitors to enjoy those fabulous views.

Impact of the 1960s World Trade Center Construction

The Empire State Building enjoyed three decades as New York City’s tallest structure and broadcast beacon. But the World Trade Center Twin Towers exceeded that height upon completion in 1970. Many networks relocated transmission facilities which impacted the Empire State’s communications and revenue. However, the Port Authority agreed to install replacement antenna infrastructure at the World Trade Center to appease unhappy Empire State owners.

Significance as Broadcast Site After 9/11 Attacks

Of course, the unthinkable happened on 9/11/2001 when terrorism destroyed the World Trade Center. Broadcast signals across the city temporarily went dark for 10 days. Luckily, technicians swiftly reestablished antennas atop the Empire State Building to restore this vital communications capacity until permanent antenna could be installed at One World Trade Center in the 2010s. So the iconic art deco tower served as New York City’s makeshift transmission site in a time of tragedy, keeping the public informed during recovery efforts.

Modern Lighting & Sustainability Upgrades

While honoring its history, the Empire State Building stays continuously modernized as well. Sustainability initiatives have upgraded windows, heating, and lighting for maximum efficiency. LED bulbs control the iconic tower light shows, using 80% less energy! And a $165 million renovation of observatories debuted in 2019. State-of-the-art exhibits now immerse visitors in the thrill of ascending and taking in the cityscape surrounding the famous Empire State.

Pop Culture Symbolism

Beyond infrastructure improvements, the Empire State Building itself has become embedded in pop culture and the public consciousness over nine decades:

Iconic “King Kong” Movie Debut

Can you visualize the climax of King Kong, when planes attack the giant ape clutching Fay Wray atop the Empire State Building? The 1933 movie cemented the art deco tower as the archetypal skyscraper. Countless films have capitalized on the building’s towering fame since.

Appearances Across Film, Art, Literature & Music

From Independence Day alien battles to Sleepless in Seattle romance, the Empire State Building reliably delivers silver screen drama and comedy. Andy Warhol captured its celebrity status in an eight-hour silent film called Empire. The skyscraper even dials up the tension in video games like Crysis 2 when aliens attack the observatory deck!

On canvas, photographs, tourism posters and literature, artists worldwide feature the Empire State Building visual shorthand for conveying New York City’s excitement. And musicians from Alicia Keys to LCD Sound system name-drop the landmark in lyrical odes to the Big Apple.

Architectural Influence Across the Globe

Beyond fame, the building also leaves a structural legacy. At 102 stories, it proved supertall skyscrapers could be built beyond previous assumed limits through modern mass-production methods. The design influenced towers globally, like the Financial Insurance Center in LA. Overseas, everything from the Empire Tower replica in the New York-New York Vegas hotel to China’s CITIC Plaza emulates aspects of the art deco classic. While the Empire State Building no longer holds height records, its Depression-era innovation and style still awe and inspire today.

Celebrity Visitors & Public Fascination

From publicity events like the annual Empire State Building Run-Up race to movies on the 80th floor, the global icon continues attracting public fascination today. Celebrities like Taylor Swift and royalty including Prince William actively seek out the VIP treatment and world-famous views. Each year, hundreds of pop culture events and films actively capitalize on the landmark’s enduring intrigue and sway!

Preserving an Historic Landmark

Given the Empire State Building’s significance, meticulous preservation ensures it endures for new generations to admire:

Landmark Protection Status Safeguards Integrity

Since the early 1980s, New York City officially protects the Empire State Building as a historic city landmark through its preservation commission. And in 1986 the art deco icon gained National Historic Landmark designation from the Department of Interior for its architectural merits. These oversight bodies help ensure modifications to the building uphold and honor is original grandeur and design intent.

Renovations & Upgrades Continually Enhance Visitor Experience

The official oversight comes alongside ongoing revitalizations by ownership groups over the decades to actively maintain and modernize infrastructure. For example, a comprehensive $550 million update from 2009-2019 refurbished building systems for sustainability while adding new observatory galleries. Keeping the site immersive and thrilling for visitors is key, and recent renovations restored the iconic mooring mast and external floodlighting to better showcase its sleek art deco design.

Empire State Realty Trust’s Active Modern Management

Since taking ownership control recently, the Empire State Realty Trust continues actively managing and leasing out office space inside the storied building. Broadcasting stations still transmit signals from the mast, alongside cell phone and other infrastructure equipment. Plus special lighting bathes the tower in seasonal colors. Balance between modernization, infrastructure, entertainment and preservation persists under the current stewardship.

Future Visions

As times and architectural feats advance, the nearly century-old Empire State Building pushes innovation in energy efficiency and visitor exhibits to secure its place despite recently surrendering NYC’s tallest title. Flexible indoor spaces may potentially support new uses we can’t yet envision for decades further down the road. No matter what surrounds it going forward, the sleek art deco spire shall remain the quintessential focal point of the Manhattan skyline just as King Kong envisioned.

The Empire State Building has rightfully earned its reputation as an international emblem of New York City. Beyond impressive statistics like its 1,454 height and 1931 construction speed records lies cultural weight; from iconic movies to its place in the NY skyline to broadcast history. Views from its observatories also showcase NYC’s eclectic architecture and dynamic landscape unfurling in every direction. Through ongoing preservation efforts, this sleek art deco tower stays forever young at nearly 100 years old. With its prime location, the fun hardly stops after you descend the Empire State Building’s majestic heights. This linked guide covers details on more nearby shopping, Midtown attractions, Broadway theaters, best skyscraping views, museum row on the Upper East Side, urban parks and nightlife excitement – really anything in the Empire State vicinity!

So next time you’re snapping that legendary city panorama, take a moment to appreciate all the rich history, structural innovation and visual excitement the Empire State Building represents. No matter your vantage point, it shall endure as Gotham’s chief art deco Cathedral of Dreams!

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Empire State Building

New York's famous Empire State Building, a New York City Landmark and a National Historic Landmark, soars more than a quarter of a mile into the atmosphere above the heart of Manhattan. The Observatory located on the 86th floor, 1,050 feet (320 meters) above the city's bustling streets, offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from the surrounding open-air promenade. Since the Observatory opened to the public in 1931, almost 110 million visitors have thrilled to the awe-inspiring vision of the city beneath them. Due to its iconic status, long lines are very common, pre-purchasing your tickets is highly recommended to avoid those long lines. Get your tickets today.

5th avenue & west 34th street

Hours of Operation

8:00am - 2:00am

last elevator @ 1:15am

Average Visit Time

Did you know? The ride in the elevator up to the 86th Floor Observatory takes less than one minute. The Empire State Building has appeared in more than 250 movies to date. More than 220 couples have wed at the Empire State Building. During the annual Empire State Building Run-Up event, hundreds of people race from the lobby to the 86th floor Observatory.

The following package prices INCLUDE discount admission to this attraction and discounted round-trip ferry travel to our Midtown W.39th St. terminal. (Our free connecting shuttles take you to or near this attraction.)

All sales are final.  No refunds, exchanges or replacements.

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For same day bookings after 1:00pm on Saturday & Sunday tickets are available at the Port Imperial ticket office.

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When the Skyscraper You Hate Blocks the Skyscraper You Love

Views of the Empire State Building are being obscured by a new 860-foot luxury tower rising just blocks away. Should New York regulate its skyline?

A new supertall luxury apartment tower, 262 Fifth Avenue, rises south of the Empire State Building. Credit... George Etheredge for The New York Times

Supported by

By Michael Kimmelman

• Published Oct. 25, 2023 Updated Oct. 31, 2023

Sometimes New York’s a downer. I had an appointment the other day near Madison Square Park.

Listen to This Article

Open this article in the New York Times Audio app on iOS.

For years, one of the great architectural twofers in the city has been the view up and down Fifth Avenue from the pedestrian plaza next to the park, south toward the Flatiron Building, north toward the Empire State. When I reached the plaza I turned to admire the Flatiron, as usual. But the view north had changed.

The Empire State Building is gone, or almost.

From much of the plaza, yet another anorexic supertall for squillionaires, rising at 29th Street, now blots it out.

A generation ago, the New York skyline was a global icon, shaped more or less like a suspension bridge stretched between the Empire State and the Twin Towers, making it possible to, say, pop out of some unfamiliar subway station, gaze up toward the clouds and orient oneself along the skyline’s north-south axis. Today, the skyline is vastly more complex, far-flung and difficult to picture, and it’s common to hear complaints that the city has lost its bearings.

Should New York regulate its skyline?

It’s hardly a new question . Ever since Henry Hudson sailed through the Narrows, change has been New York’s mantra and bugaboo. In the name of progress, the city has long ghosted its inhabitants, architecturally speaking, removing parts of itself, taking up with richer, shinier partners, canceling cherished views .

In the process some minuet of fire escapes is serendipitously revealed or a painted advertisement for a long-departed business surfaces — like one of Paul Celan’s messages in bottles tossed in the ocean, returned from oblivion — which then vanishes as abruptly as it appeared once a newer building rises from the rubble.

New Yorkers may recall, several years ago, seeing the west facade of Grand Central Terminal from Madison Avenue when a block of brick buildings came down on 42nd Street. Then One Vanderbilt , a 1,401-foot-tall commercial behemoth, sprouted where the brick buildings had been and the view dissolved like a mirage. Another building came down around the corner where a new skyscraper is going up, incidentally revealing the otherwise shared side, or “party,” wall of Stanford White’s Century Association. It was the architectural equivalent of spying a 19th-century robber baron in his underwear.

New Yorkers have historically toted up these fleeting encounters like dueling scars or Waldo sightings. A healthy city is an evolving organism, after all.

But the fickle skyline, occupied by billionaire apartments, has increasingly come to symbolize the city’s growing income gap and the skyrocketing cost of housing — crises exacerbated by homelessness, NIMBYism and an abiding public allergy to new architecture, which dates back at least to the 1940s.

Before then New Yorkers clearly felt more at peace with change, more confident that whatever was lost, architecturally, would be replaced by a building equally good or better. New Yorkers mourned the demolition of the old Waldorf Astoria on Fifth Avenue by Henry Hardenbergh. With a few notable exceptions , however, they came to adore what arrived on that corner even more: the Empire State Building.

The public embraced the Empire State because it was then the world’s tallest building, a symbol of resolve in the teeth of the Depression. But in addition they took the skyscraper to heart because it was a tower in which clerks and garment workers mixed with bankers and diamond merchants.

Those who could spare one dollar in 1931 — the equivalent of about $20 today — could visit the observation deck and gaze like a god over New York. As the Brooklyn Bridge had done during the 19th century, the Empire State made the city’s stratosphere into a public square and the skyline into a resource that New Yorkers felt they shared.

Today a ticket to the building’s 102nd floor observation deck approaches $80, and who is experiencing progress these days?

In the midst of a housing crisis, New Yorkers look up at all the skinny mansions in the sky where oligarchs park their fortunes and feel they have the answer. The pencil-thin, 860-foot-tall building that is spoiling views of the Empire State from Lower Fifth Avenue is called 262 Fifth Avenue. Designed by a Russian firm named Meganom , it is going to have 56 stories and contain just 26 apartments , according to Crain’s .

Cities like London and St. Petersburg in Russia have enacted rules over the years to protect what are sometimes called view cones, sheds or corridors. New York has just one legally designated view shed, and it’s only sort of protected. I’m talking about the panorama of Lower Manhattan across the East River, from the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. During the 1970s, residents of the Heights successfully lobbied the city to safeguard that vista. Authorities were starting to talk about redeveloping the Brooklyn waterfront at the foot of the Heights, raising fears about derelict warehouses giving way to high rises.

Instead, the waterfront became Brooklyn Bridge Park, one of the glories of 21st century New York.

The Heights’s “Special Scenic View District” did nothing, however, to regulate what could be built on the Manhattan side of the East River to screw up that panorama from the Promenade. So now New Yorkers suffer One Manhattan Square , a glassy, 81-story, Z-shaped condo complex, close-talking the Manhattan Bridge, completed in 2019, the most out-of-scale intrusion on the downtown skyline since the New York Telephone Company’s tower on Pearl Street, from 1975 — voted among the ugliest buildings in the world — started blighting views of the Brooklyn Bridge.

“It’s time to rethink our assumptions,” according to Jorge Otero-Pailos , who directs the historic preservation program at Columbia University. Regulating iconic views would “guarantee a collective experience, a sense of shared identity and civic meaning, which can bind New Yorkers across generations and centuries,” he told me.

But New York is not St. Petersburg or Rome or even London. Manhattan’s rectilinear street grid doesn’t lend itself easily to view cones. Zoning resolutions passed in 1961 set rules about square footage per lot size, so in a sense the city already regulates the skyline. Should it do more?

There’s no easy answer. Sometimes public opposition and an economic downturn help forestall a bad plan like Albany’s recent proposal to raise money to fix Penn Station by leveraging revenues from the development of a proposed cluster of office towers that no one now wants. Sometimes the city intervenes in specific cases. Years ago the Bloomberg administration’s planning commissioner, Amanda Burden, insisted that Hines, the developer, and Jean Nouvel, the French architect, lop off the top of 53W53, a tower planned in Midtown, in part so as not to upstage the Empire State. The change did no favors to 53W53, one of the better supertalls with its muscular exoskeleton, and the Empire State was dwarfed anyway.

One Vanderbilt, which now looms over the nearby Chrysler Building and also overshadows the Empire State from certain angles, currently pays $54 million in annual property taxes, a spokesman for SL Green Realty, its developer, tells me. That is more than five times what those brick buildings, now demolished, were paying collectively. And that’s not counting the $220 million in street and transit upgrades the developer doled out as part of an agreement with the city.

It’s tempting, but glib, to argue that the city should pass new laws requiring further public benefits from any building claiming stratospheric real estate that is, in effect, New Yorkers’ collective property. Zoning resolutions to that effect are among the most difficult regulations to pass, not least because they have an impact on revenues that support things like public transit, public housing developments, schools and hospitals.

And architectural styles can’t themselves be legislated without turning New York into Colonial Williamsburg on the Hudson. The city could certainly live without 262 Fifth Avenue. But, aesthetically, I find a few of the Midtown supertalls that people now love to hate actually kind of thrilling; and expressive, romantic projects like SHoP’s new Brooklyn Tower , with its setbacks and Woolworth Building-wannabe vibe, seem to me to be extending the skyline’s loftiest ambitions beyond Manhattan.

Fingers crossed, future development in New York will focus more on repurposing underused, older office and other buildings and constructing more subsidized apartments. But the skyline will inevitably be redrawn again and again. Carol Willis is among the New Yorkers losing her view of the Empire State because of 262 Fifth Avenue. For decades, she could admire the skyscraper from her bedroom window. As founder of the Skyscraper Museum in Lower Manhattan, she grasps the irony.

“Much as I would love to save my view,” she told me, she believes New York must preserve “the continuing New York-ness of the city.”

That means occasionally breaking hearts — but also sometimes making them leap. After inspecting 262, I headed west along 28th Street where an alley I didn’t remember suddenly opened up a sunny patch of northern sky. Turning to look, I was put in mind of that trick in which a ball from one cup magically ends up in another.

The alley framed a postcard view of the Empire State Building, rising into the ether.

Audio produced by Jack D’Isidoro .

An earlier version of this article misidentified the riverfront view at the Brooklyn Heights Promenade. It is across the East River, not the Hudson.

How we handle corrections

Michael Kimmelman is the architecture critic. He has reported from more than 40 countries and was previously chief art critic. While based in Berlin, he created the Abroad column, covering culture and politics in Europe and the Middle East. He is the founder and editor-at-large of a new venture focused on global challenges and progress called Headway. More about Michael Kimmelman

Exploring New York City’s Buildings

505 State Street: In an ever-changing Downtown Brooklyn, high-rise apartment buildings nearing completion are a familiar sight. But there’s something different about  this one: It will be the first all-electric residential tower  in New York City.

Kingsbridge Armory:  It was supposed to be a mall, and then ice rinks. Nearly 30 years later, a community group may have the best shot at revitalizing the palatial fortress in the Bronx .

Empire State Building: Views of the iconic skyscraper are being obscured by a new 860-foot luxury tower rising just blocks away. Should New York regulate its skyline ?

Morris-Jumel Mansion: The 258-year-old house is the “crown jewel of Sugar Hill” in Manhattan — and a victim of bureaucratic and financial neglect .

Sea View Hospital: The Staten Island complex is now in ruins. But in the 20th century the structure and the Black nurses working in it played a key role in the battle against tuberculosis in the 20th century .

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‘Star Wars’ takes over the Empire State Building

Empire strikes back: Star Wars “March To May The 4th” kicks off in New York City, delights fans with new products and a stunning, dynamic light show on the façade of The Empire State Building on March 21, 2024. (Noam Galai/Disney Consumer Products)

NEW YORK — The Empire State Building celebrated the start of a new “Star Wars” campaign with special lights and fan experiences earlier this week.

>> Read more trending news

On Thursday, “Star Wars” took over the Empire State Building. It started with a visit from Hayden Christensen who was an actor in the franchise. Christensen helped flip the ceremonial switch to start the building’s lights, which marked the start of the “Star Wars” festivities, “ Good Morning America ” reported.

“‘Star Wars’ has been a very important part of my life, and so it’s a real pleasure to get to be here and see this amazing show that they’re going to put on,” Christensen said, according to “ Good Morning America .”

According to the Empire State Building’s website , Vader-themed Fifth Avenue Lobby windows, Funko POP! and Lego displays were also unveiled.

“To celebrate the 25th anniversary of LEGO Star Wars, the LEGO Group is featuring a museum-quality display of life-sized Star Wars villains built from LEGO bricks, including six-foot tall, brick-built recreations of Darth Vader and Darth Maul on the building’s 80th floor. The building’s iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby windows feature a special Star Wars display that depicts imagery of Darth Vader, Darth Maul and stormtroopers amid an array of Star Wars merchandise,” Disney Consumer Products said in a news release .

Welcome to THE EMPIRE State Building @starwars pic.twitter.com/g7ZIxUq7wm — Empire State Building (@EmpireStateBldg) March 22, 2024

The Empire State Building debuted a “Star Wars” montage in lights on the south side facade Thursday night. The lights were broadcasted with the “Imperial March.”

Some “Star Wars” activation will be around the Empire State Building in the Observatory Experience open to the public through April 29, Disney Consumer Products said. Those who visited through Saturday could check out an experience from Hasbro and Amazon and taste some TruMoo “Star Wars” Blue Milk before it hits store shelves later in April.

The event was part of the launch of “March to May the 4th” campaign.

“We’re excited to unveil a broad range of new products for fans of all ages with our extensive roster of licensees and retailers as we all march to May the 4th,” said Paul Southern, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Commercialization, Lucasfilm, Disney Experiences . “We really brought the power of the Empire to the Empire State Building with this Star Wars takeover, creating a moment only fit for one of the strongest entertainment brands and most enduring franchises in the world.”

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Exclusive Events

STAR WARS Takes Over the Empire State Building

Mar 21, 2024

The Force is strong.

Disney and Lucasfilm banded together for a STAR WARS takeover at the world-famous Empire State Building on March 21. The epic ode to the franchise’s villains began that morning with a celebrity visit from STAR WARS actor Hayden Christensen, an unveiling of the Vader-themed Fifth Avenue Lobby windows, the debut of displays by Funko POP! and LEGO throughout the Observatory Experience, and an immersive fan experience by Hasbro and Amazon. The festivities culminated with a dynamic STAR WARS light show.

Learn more about the villain invasion below!

The Dark Side in Lights

ESB debuted a one-of-a-kind STAR WARS montage in lights that celebrated the fan-favorite scenes of the franchise’s villains on the building’s south side façade that evening. The galactic spectacular – that continued in intervals from 8-11 p.m. – was synched to a broadcast of the iconic “Imperial March” on iHeartRadio’s Z100.

STAR WARS actor Hayden Christensen joined Darth Vader and two storm troopers at the Empire State Building that morning to flip the famous light switch. After the ceremony, he toured the Observatory Experience – which was voted the #1 attraction in the U.S. in Tripadvisor’s 2023 Travelers’ Choice “Best of the Best” for two consecutive years – and posed for photos with the STAR WARS themed exhibits throughout the experience.

Top-To-Bottom Takeover

To start off the day, the Empire State Building unveiled its iconic Fifth Avenue Lobby windows, which feature artistic depictions of Darth Vader, Darth Maul, and stormtroopers surrounded by new STAR WARS merchandise.

Hasbro and Amazon teamed up for a STAR WARS fan experience at the base of the building that highlights the villains of the STAR WARS galaxy and features photo opportunities with costumed characters and photo backdrops that recreate iconic scenes and locations inspired by the films. Guests can also pose in the blister card packaging of a STAR WARS Vintage Collection figure and check out the latest Hasbro Black Series helmets and FX Elite and Kyber Core Lightsabers.

The building’s 80th Floor featured a museum-quality display of life-sized Darth Vader and Darth Maul brick builds and a 3D mural of Luke Skywalker and other fan-favorite characters from the film series to celebrate 25 years of the LEGO STAR WARS collaboration. 

On the 86th Floor Observatory, fans can pose for a photo with a life-size Funko POP! Darth Vader with ESB’s unmatched New York City views as a backdrop until April 29. Dairy Farmers of America and their flavored milk brand, TruMoo, brought samples of their new blue milk for Observatory guests.

"The Empire Strikes Back”

To round out the takeover, the Empire State Building will host a movie screening of STAR WARS: The Empire Strikes Back on the 80th Floor on March 22. Movie ticketholders will also receive complimentary drinks and snacks to enjoy with the movie and access to the 86th and 102nd Floor Observatories.

Text CONNECT to 274-16 to receive real-time information about the Empire State Building’s tower lights.

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Unbuilt Moscow: the 'new Soviet' city that never was – in pictures

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As the centenary of the Russian revolution approaches, the designs of top Soviet architects for the capital’s future reveal their visionary aspirations

• Imagine Moscow is at the Design Museum, London, until 4 June

Alexandra Rogers

Wed 8 Mar 2017 07.00 GMT Last modified on Wed 23 Sep 2020 15.28 BST

Palace of the Soviets, Boris Iofan, 1931-33

Illustration: All images: Design Museum, London

Palace of the Soviets

Cloud Iron,

Photograph: Peter Cox/Imagine Moscow

Monument to the first artificial earth satellite,

Lenin Institute,

Communal house,

Narkomtiazhprom, Vesnin brothers, 1934

Industrial area with buildings and metal constructions, Yakov Chernikov, 1924-33

Set design with concave surfaces, Yakov Chernikov, late-1920s

Architectural study,

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List of Famous Moscow Buildings & Structures

List of the famous landmarks that make up the Moscow skyline, listed alphabetically with photos when available. Moscow architectural landmarks as well as other major buildings, dwellings, and other structures in Moscow are included on this list. Information about these Moscow buildings is included on this list, such as when the building first opened and what architectural style it falls under. List includes both new buildings in Moscow and older historic landmarks.

List buildings include Mercury City Tower, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow and many additional buildings as well.

This list answers the question, "What are the most famous buildings in Moscow?"

All-Russia Exhibition Centre

Almon asbury lieuallen house, bolshoi theatre, moscow, central moscow hippodrome, church of st. john the warrior, church of the intercession at fili, church of the savior on bolvany, city hall and city duma, city of capitals, dormition cathedral, moscow, dynamo sports palace, dynamo stadium, eduard streltsov stadium, eighth sister, federation tower, grand kremlin palace, house on mosfilmovskaya, kyiv railway terminus, moscow, kotelnicheskaya embankment, kotelnicheskaya embankment building, luzhniki palace of sports, luzhniki stadium, mason cornwall house, mcconnell-mcguire building, megasport arena, memorial gymnasium, mercury city tower, monument to the conquerors of space, moscow choral synagogue.

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Lists and galleries of some of the most famous, interesting, and beautiful buildings around the world and throughout history.

Russian History in Architecture

• An Introduction to Architecture
• Great Buildings
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• Famous Houses
• Skyscrapers
• Tips For Homeowners
• Art & Artists

• Doctor of Arts, University of Albany, SUNY
• M.S., Literacy Education, University of Albany, SUNY
• B.A., English, Virginia Commonwealth University

Stretching between Europe and China , Russia is neither East nor West. The vast expanse of field, forest, desert, and tundra has seen Mongol rule , czarist reigns of terror, European invasions, and Communist rule. The architecture that evolved in Russia reflects the ideas of many cultures. Yet, from onion domes to neo-gothic skyscrapers , a distinctively Russian style emerged.

Join us for a photo tour of important architecture in Russia and the Russian empire.

Viking Log Homes in Novgorod, Russia

First Century A.D.: In the walled city of Novgorod in what is now called Russia, the Vikings built rustic log homes.

In a land filled with trees, settlers will build a shelter from timber. Russia's early architecture was primarily wood. Because there were no saws and drills in ancient times, trees were cut with axes and buildings were constructed with rough-hewn logs. Homes built by the Vikings were rectangular with steep, chalet-style roofs.

During the first century AD, churches were also constructed of logs. Using chisels and knives, craftsmen created detailed carvings.

Wooden Churches on Kizhi Island

14th Century: Complex wooden churches were built on the island of Kizhi. The Church of Resurrection of Lazarus, shown here, may be the oldest wooden church in Russia.

Russia's wooden churches often perched on hilltops, overlooking the forests and villages. Although the walls were crudely constructed of rough-hewn logs, similar to the early Viking log huts, the roofs were often complex. Onion shaped domes, symbolizing heaven in the Russian Orthodox tradition, were covered with wooden shingles. The onion domes reflected Byzantine design ideas and were strictly decorative. They were constructed of wood framing and served no structural function.

Located at the northern end of Lake Onega near St. Petersburg, the island of Kizhi (also spelled "Kishi" or "Kiszhi") is famous for its remarkable array of wooden churches. An early mention of the Kizhi settlements is found in chronicles from the 14th and 15th centuries. In 1960, Kizhi became home to an open-air museum for the preservation of Russia's wooden architecture. Restoration work was supervised by the Russian architect, Dr. A. Opolovnikov.

Church of the Transfiguration on Kizhi Island

The Church of the Transfiguration at Kizhi Island has 22 onion domes covered with hundreds of aspen shingles.

Russia's wooden churches began as simple, sacred spaces. The Church of Resurrection of Lazarus may be the oldest wooden church remaining in Russia. Many of these structures, however, were quickly ravished by rot and fire. Over the centuries, destroyed churches were replaced with larger and more elaborate buildings.

Built in 1714 during the reign of Peter the Great, the Church of the Transfiguration shown here has 22 soaring onion domes sheathed in hundreds of aspen shingles. No nails were used in the construction of the cathedral, and today many of the spruce logs are weakened by insects and rot. In addition, a shortage of funds has lead to neglect and poorly executed restoration efforts.

Wooden architecture at Kizhi Pogost is a UNESCO World Heritage site .

Cathedral of Christ the Savior, Moscow

The English name translation is often Cathedral of Christ the Savior. Destroyed by Stalin in 1931, the Cathedral has been rebuilt and is now fully accessible by the Patriarshy Bridge, a pedestrian walkway across Moskva river.

Known to be the world's tallest Orthodox Church, this Christian sacred spot and tourist destination describes a nation's religious and political history.

Historic Events Surrounding the Cathedral

• 1812 : Emperor Alexander I plans to build a grand cathedral to commemorate the Russian Army expelling Napoleon's Army from Moscow
• 1817 : After a design by Russian architect Aleksandr Vitberg, cathedral construction begins but is quickly halted because of the site's unstable ground
• 1832 : Emperor Nicholas I approves a new building site and a new design by Russian architect Konstantin Ton
• 1839 to 1879 : Construction of the Russian Byzantine design, modeled in part on the Assumption Cathedral, the Cathedral of the Dormition
• 1931 : Intentionally destroyed by the Soviet government, with plans to build a palace for the people, "the largest building in the world," as a monument to the new socialist order. Construction was halted during WWII, and then in 1958, the largest open-air public swimming pool (Moskva Pol) was built instead.
• 1994 to 2000 : Dismantling of the swimming pool and reconstruction of the Cathedral.
• 2004 : A steel footbridge, the Patriarshy Bridge, is built to connect the church to downtown Moscow.

Moscow has emerged as a modern city of the 21st century. Rebuilding this Cathedral has been one of the projects that have transformed the city. The Cathedral project leaders included the Mayor of Moscow, Yuri Luzhkov, and the architect M.M. Posokhin, just as they were involved with skyscraper projects such as Mercury City. The rich history of Russia is embodied in this architectural site. The influences of ancient Byzantine lands, warring armies, political regimes, and urban renewal are all present at the site of the of Christ the Savior.

St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow

1554 to 1560: Ivan the Terrible erected the exuberant St. Basil's Cathedral just outside the Kremlin gates in Moscow.

The reign of Ivan IV (the Terrible) brought a brief resurgence of interest in traditional Russian styles. To honor Russia's victory over the Tatars at Kazan, the legendary Ivan the Terrible erected the exuberant St. Basil's Cathedral just outside the Kremlin gates in Moscow. Completed in 1560, St. Basil's is a carnival of painted onion domes in the most expressive of Russo-Byzantine traditions. It is said that Ivan the Terrible had the architects blinded so that they could never again design a building so beautiful.

St. Basil's Cathedral is also known as the Cathedral of the Protection of the Mother of God.

After the reign of Ivan IV, architecture in Russia borrowed more and more from European rather than Eastern styles.

Smolny Cathedral in St. Petersburg

1748 to 1764: Designed by the famous Italian architect, Rastrelli, the Rococo Smolny Cathedral is like a fancy cake.

European ideas reigned during the time of Peter the Great. His namesake city, St. Petersburg, was modeled after European ideas, and his successors continued the tradition by bringing architects from Europe to design palaces, cathedrals and other important buildings.

Designed by the famous Italian architect, Rastrelli, Smolny Cathedral celebrates the Rococo style. Rococo is a French Baroque fashion known for its light, white ornamentation and complex arrangements of curving forms. The blue-and-white Smolny Cathedral is like a confectioner's cake with arches, pediments, and columns. Only the onion-dome caps hint at Russian tradition.

The cathedral was to be the centerpiece of a convent designed for Empress Elisabeth, daughter of Peter the Great. Elisabeth had planned to become a nun, but she abandoned the idea once she was given a chance to rule. At the end of her reign, funding for the convent ran out. Construction stopped in 1764, and the cathedral was not completed until 1835.

Hermitage Winter Palace in St. Petersburg

1754 to 1762: The 16th-century architect Rastrelli created the most famous building of imperial St. Petersburg, the Hermitage Winter Palace.

With Baroque and Rococo flourishes usually reserved for furnishings, the noted 16th-century architect Rastrelli created what is most certainly the most famous building of imperial St. Petersburg: the Hermitage Winter Palace. Built between 1754 and 1762 for Empress Elisabeth (daughter of Peter the Great), the green-and-white palace is a lavish confection of arches, pediments, columns, pilasters, bays, balustrades, and statuary. Three stories high, the palace has 1,945 windows, 1,057 rooms, and 1,987 doors. Not an onion dome is to be found on this strictly European creation.

The Hermitage Winter Palace served as the winter residence for every ruler of Russia since Peter III. Peter's mistress, the Countess Vorontsova, also had rooms in the grand Baroque palace. When his wife Catherine the Great seized the throne, she took possession of her husband's quarters and redecorated. Catherine Palace became the Summer Palace.

Nicholas I lived in a comparatively modest apartment in the Palace while his wife Alexandra did further decorating, commissioning the elaborate Malachite Room. Alexandra's exuberant room later became the meeting place for Kerensky's Provisional Government.

In July 1917, the Provisional Government took up residence in the Hermitage Winter Palace, laying the foundation for the October Revolution. The Bolshevik government eventually transferred its capital to Moscow. Since that time, the Winter Palace has served as the renown Hermitage Museum.

Tavrichesky Palace in St. Petersburg

1783 to 1789: Catherine the Great hired the noted Russian architect Ivan Egorovich Starov to design a palace using themes from ancient Greece and Rome.

Elsewhere in the world, Russia was mocked for crude, exuberant expressions of Western architecture. When she became Empress, Catherine the Great wanted to introduce more dignified styles. She had studied engravings of classical architecture and new European buildings, and she made neoclassicism the official court style.

When Grigory Potemkin-Tavricheski (Potyomkin-Tavrichesky) was named Prince of Tauride (Crimea), Catherine hired the noted Russian architect I. E. Starov to design a classical palace for her favored military officer and consort. The architecture of Palladio , based on classical ancient Greek and Roman buildings, was the style of the day and influenced what is often called Tauride Palace or Taurida Palace . Prince Grigory's palace was starkly neoclassical with symmetrical rows of columns, a pronounced pediment, and dome just like many of the neoclassical buildings found in Washington, DC.

Tavrichesky or Tavricheskiy Palace was completed in 1789 and reconstructed in the beginning of the twentieth century.

Lenin's Mausoleum in Moscow

1924 to 1930 : Designed by Alexei Shchusev, Lenin's Mausoleum is made of simple cubes in the form of a step pyramid.

Interest in the old styles was briefly reawakened during the 1800s, but with the 20th century came the Russian Revolution and a revolution in the visual arts. The avant-garde Constructivist movement celebrated the industrial age and the new socialist order. Stark, mechanistic buildings were constructed from mass-produced components.

Designed by Alexei Shchusev, Lenin's Mausoleum has been described as a masterpiece of architectural simplicity. The mausoleum was originally a wooden cube. The body of Vladimir Lenin, founder of the Soviet Union, was displayed inside a glass casket. In 1924, Shchusev built a more permanent mausoleum made of wooden cubes assembled into a step pyramid formation. In 1930, the wood was replaced with red granite (symbolizing Communism) and black labradorite (symbolizing mourning). The austere pyramid stands just outside the Kremlin wall.

The Vysotniye Zdaniye in Moscow

1950s: After the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany, Stalin launched an ambitious plan to construct a series of Neo-Gothic skyscrapers, the Vysotniye Zdaniye.

During the reconstruction of Moscow in the 1930s, under the dictatorship of Joseph Stalin, many churches, bell towers, and cathedrals were destroyed. The Savior Cathedral was demolished to make way for the grandiose Palace of Soviets. This was to be the tallest building in the world, a towering 415-meter monument topped by a 100-meter statue of Lenin. It was part of Stalin's ambitious plan: the Vysotniye Zdaniye or High Buildings .

Eight skyscrapers were planned in the 1930s, and seven were built in the 1950s, forming a ring in the center of Moscow.

Bringing Moscow into the 20th century had to wait until after World War II and the Soviet triumph over Nazi Germany. Stalin re-launched the plan and architects were re-commissioned to design a series of Neo-Gothic skyscrapers similar to the abandoned Palace of Soviets. Often called "wedding cake" skyscrapers, the buildings were tiered to create a sense of upward movement. Each building was given a central tower and, at Stalin's request, a sparkling metalized glass spire. It was felt that the spire distinguished Stalin's buildings from the Empire State Building and other American skyscrapers. Also, these new Moscow buildings incorporated ideas from Gothic cathedrals and 17th-century Russian churches. Thus, the past and future were combined.

Often called the Seven Sisters , the Vysotniye Zdaniye are these buildings:

• 1952: Kotelnicheskaya Naberezhnaya (also known as Kotelniki Apartments or the Kotelnicheskaya Embankment)
• 1953: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• 1953: The Moscow State University Tower
• 1953 (renovated 2007): Leningradskaya Hotel
• 1953: Red Gate Square
• 1954: Kudrinskaya Square (also known as Kudrinskaya Ploshchad 1, Revolt Square, Vostaniya, and Uprising Square)
• 1955 (renovated 1995 & 2010): The Hotel Ukraine (also known as the Radisson Royal Hotel)

And what happened to the Palace of Soviets? The construction site proved too wet for such an enormous structure, and the project was abandoned when Russia entered World War II. Stalin's successor, Nikita Khrushchev, turned the construction site into the world's largest public swimming pool. In 2000, the Cathedral of Christ the Savior was reconstructed.

Recent years brought another urban revival. Yury Luzhkov, mayor of Moscow from 1992 to 2010, launched a plan to build a second ring of Neo-Gothic skyscrapers just beyond the center of Moscow. As many as 60 new buildings were planned until Luzhkov was forced from office on corruption charges.

Siberian Wooden Houses

The czars built their great palaces of stone, but common Russians lived in rustic, wooden structures.

Russia is a huge country. Its land mass encompasses two continents, Europe and Asia, with many natural resources. The largest area, Siberia, has an abundance of trees, so people built their houses of wood. The izba is what Americans would call a log cabin .

Artisans soon discovered that wood could be carved into intricate designs similar to what the wealthy did with stone. Similarly, jocular colors could brighten the long winter days in a rural community. So, mix together the colorful exterior found on St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow and the construction materials found on the Wooden Churches on Kizhi Island and you get the traditional wooden house found in many parts of Siberia.

Most of these houses were built by working class people before the Russian Revolution of 1917 . The rise of Communism ended private property ownership in favor of a more communal type of living. Throughout the twentieth century, many of these houses became government properties, but were not well-maintained and fell into disrepair. The post-Communist question of today, then, is should these houses be restored and preserved?

As Russian people flock to cities and live in modern high-rises, what will become of the many wooden residences found in more remote areas like Siberia? Without government intervention, historic preservation of the Siberian wooden house becomes an economic decision. "Their fate is emblematic of the struggle across Russia to balance the preservation of architectural treasures with the demands for development," says Clifford J. Levy in The New York Times . "But people have begun to embrace them not only for their beauty, but also because they seem a link to Siberia's rustic past...."

Mercury City Tower in Moscow

Moscow is known to have fewer building regulations than other European cities, but that's not the only reason for the city's 21st-century building boom. Yuri Luzhkov, Mayor of Moscow from 1992 to 2010, had a vision for the Russian capital that has rebuilt the past (see the Cathedral of Christ the Savior) and modernized its architecture. Mercury City Tower's design is one of the first green building designs in the history of Russian architecture. It's golden brown glass facade makes it prominent in the Moscow city skyline.

About Mercury City Tower

• Height: 1,112 feet (339 meters)—29 meters higher than The Shard
• Floors: 75 (5 floors below ground)
• Square Feet: 1.7 million
• Built: 2006 - 2013
• Architectural style: structural expressionism
• Construction Material: concrete with glass curtain wall
• Architects: Frank Williams & Partners Architects LLP (New York); M.M.Posokhin (Moscow)
• Other Names: Mercury City Tower, Mercury Office Tower
• Multiple Use: Office, Residential, Commercial
• Official Website: www.mercury-city.com/

The Tower has "green architecture" mechanisms including the ability to collect melting water and provide natural lighting to 75% workspaces. Another green trend is to source locally, cutting down on transportation costs and energy consumption. Ten percent of the construction materials came from a 300-kilometer radius of the construction site.

"Though blessed with an abundance of natural energy resources, it is important to conserve energy in a country like Russia," said architect Michael Posokhin on green building. "I'm always trying to look for the special, unique feeling of each site, and incorporate it in my design."

The tower has "a strong vertical thrust similar to the one found in New York's Chrysler Building ," said architect Frank Williams. "The new tower is sheathed in a light, warm silver glass that will act as a background for Moscow's new City Hall, which has a rich red glass roofscape. This new City Hall sits adjacent to MERCURY CITY TOWER."

Moscow has entered the 21st century.

• EMPORIS Public Relations . Names and dates from the EMPORIS database, including Vysotniye Zdaniya ; Lomonosov Moscow State University Main Building ; Kotelnicheskaya Naberezhnaya ; Leningradskaya Hotel ; Red Gate Square ; Kudrinskaya Ploshchad 1 ; Ministry of Foreign Affairs ; Radisson Royal Hotel ; Palace of the Soviets  [Accessed November 6, 2012]
• A Fresh Take on a 19th-Century Gingerbread Village by Clifford J. Levy, The New York Times , June 25, 2008 [accessed November 6, 2013]
• History of the Cathedral (1812-1931) , Destruction (1931-1990) , Reconstruction (1990-2000) , The Cathedral of Christ The Savior English language website at www.xxc.ru/english/ [Accessed February 3, 2014]
• Mercury City Tower, Portfolio International, Frank Williams & Partners Architects LLP. www.fw-p.com/default.aspx?page=5&type=99&project=319&set=1&focus=0&link=1. [Accessed November 6, 2012].
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