History of The Empire State Building

The Empire State Building

It’s no longer the tallest in the world but the Empire State Building held the record for forty years—from 1931 to 1971—and is the ancestor to all supertall skyscrapers today. But there’s more to it than height. Learn what came before the ESB, how the building was erected in record time during the height of the Great Depression, and the race to be the tallest. Hear fun facts and interesting stories behind New York’s most recognizable building.