Secrets, Quirks of Empire State Building

The Great Depression cast a dark cloud over America during the late 1920s and '30s, but out of the shadows emerged symbols of hope and the promise of forward progress. In New York City, an architectural race to build the tallest building in the world was thrown into the national consciousness. At 1,046 feet, the Chrysler Building was the first to hold the crown when it was finished in May 1930. However, a mere 11 months later, the switch was flipped on at the 1,250-foot-tall Empire State Building, the tallest building anyone had ever seen. Known in its day as the “eighth wonder of the world,” this national landmark has been immortalized in cinematic hits like An Affair to Remember and King Kong and remains one of the world’s most recognizable structures made by man—though some facts about the behemoth may still surprise you.