Sometimes we take for granted the great monuments of our time. So often these grand engineering achievements were considered folly at the time of their construction, but went on to become iconic images forever burned into our memory.
When it opened for business in 1931, the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world by orders of magnitude. It stood more than twice as high the second tallest building. It would remain the world record holder until 1970, when the North Tower of the World Trade Center opened. Construction started at the height of the Great Depression, and many wondered if engaging in such a project was a wise decision considering the nation’s troubles. Fortunately, braver souls prevailed and the project went forward.
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