Secrets of the Empire State Building: Fun and Surprising Facts

The Empire State Building reaches an astounding 1454 feet. This includes the height from the base to the antennae, which alone accounts for 204 feet. Besides, on a clear day, you can have a telescopic glimpse of Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and New York. The 86th and 102nd floor is specially dedicated as an observatory. The latter offers a 360-degree view of the city and lets you experience a once-in-a-lifetime moment. In 1931, after its completion, it was named the tallest tower in the world.

Unknown to most people, there has been news about the Empire State Building as having a secretive celebrity floor. This is present on the 103rd floor and is inaccessible to the general public. It is also believed that people visiting the 103rd floor must have a good knack for height as there is considerably very little height difference between the knees and a long drop on the other end. Celebrities like Taylor Swift have graced the location and posted pictures on social media! Irrespective of any price that visitors are willing to pay, this floor is out of bounds and can reportedly be accessed by celebrities and famous stars alone.

One of the ways the Empire State Building has become a famous destination among the global audience is attributed to its screen presence in multiple movies and television series. We cannot deny the paramount impact left by the work of art on the globalized citizen. Movies such as An Affair to Remember, Superman II, and Elf *have projected the beauty of the building. Besides, television series like *How I met your mother, Gossip Girl, and Friends, made it even more popular among the people. Undoubtedly, we know the reason why it ranks as one of the most famous buildings in the world.

Attributed to the presence of some reputed companies, the prestige of the building, its importance as an architectural marvel, and to avoid any accidents within the building premises, the security is tightened at the time of entry. You will have to go through similar checks and verifications that take place at the airport. It is manned 24x7 and laced with state-of-art security equipment for the safety of visitors and other tenants who use the building premises. They are generally requested for proof of identity, and only those who have authorized visitor passes and tickets can access the space as it also contains corporate offices that do not permit visitor attendance.

CNN has partnered with the Empire State Building to provide real-time election results during the time of elections. This is displayed live on the tower. Once the results are declared, the building illuminates with the face of the elected President to show their recognition towards the newly elected leader. There have been campaigns in the past where the pictures of voters who have posted on Instagram with a given hashtag, such as #MyVote, popped up in the LEDs covering the election news.

To make the biggest moment of your life even more memorable, the Empire State Building has been giving a lucrative offer to all those who solemnize their marriage inside the building. However, this perk is granted only to visitors who choose to tie the knot on Valentine’s Day (14 February). Sign up for a lifetime of special access to one of the most iconic places in the world! You get to become members of the Empire State Building Wedding Club and can also avail of free yearly access to the observatory on 14 February!

With the stunning architectural features that the building possesses, it is impossible to believe that the building was completed in just one year! Yes, you read it right! The construction of the building began in 1930, and it was in 1931 that the building was inaugurated in a record timeline, making it the tallest building in the world. It would amaze you to know that nearly 3000 workers were involved in the process. They took the task of completing at least 4.5 floors per week.

Given that the Empire State Building is one of the tallest in the world, you might be wondering if it is impacted by lightning. Given that the occurrence of lightning is a natural process and Manhattan is not an exception to experiencing the phenomenon, it is not uncommon to hear about lightning striking the Empire States Building. There are annual incidences of lightning striking the top of antenna during drastic weather conditions. Even though this sounds a tad bit dangerous, the building is completely equipped to handle such occurrences. In fact, these events of lightning provide some jaw-dropping photographs for the photographers who come to witness this!

The Empire State Building hosts multiple offices, restaurants, gift shops, and other facilities. The majority of the building’s space is allocated to be used as offices. Some major companies that work out of the building include LinkedIn, Shutterstock, Skanska, Expedia, and Workday, to name a few. Additionally, there are facilities such as observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floors that are open to visitors to get panoramic views of the city and adjoining areas. Those visiting ESB can also indulge in some delicious food at the restaurants inside like the State Grill and Bar, Refresh, Refuel, and Tacombi. Located on the 2nd and 80th floors are the fabulous exhibits where one can use an audio guide for an enhanced experience.

Can you grasp the fact that one of the tallest buildings in the world holds an annual race inside the premises? Well, it’s true! Known as the Empire State Building Run-Up (ESBRU), the complex holds an annual athletic event where it challenges participants and athletes from around the world to be a part of an 86 floor-stair-climbing competition. The number of stairs that one has to climb is 1576, which ultimately tests the endurance of the participants!