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The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic and well-known buildings in New York City and around the world. It was under construction between 1930 and 1931 and was the tallest skyscraper in the world for 40 years. It continues to stand tall, accenting the city’s skyline and remaining one of the most popular observation decks.
One of the lead investors and builders of the Empire State
Building had Irish heritage. The building was built with help from John J.
Raskob. Raskob was born to a German father and Irishmother in Lockport, New York, and was the oldest of four boys. He attended
a local business college to study accounting and stenography, both of which he
did throughout his career.
Raskob continued to work in various aspects of finance and investing,
working heavily with General Motors. He was also the chairman of the National
Democratic Committee, using his position and knowledge to help raise funds.
The building of the Empire State Building was announced in
1929. Although this year also saw the start of the Great Depression, the
construction company and investors decided to continue with the plan. Construction
took place between 1930 and 1931, taking a record-breaking 1 year and 45 days
to complete.
The building sits on Fifth Avenue between 33rd and 34th
streets in midtown Manhattan. This land once belonged to the Astor family but
was purchased for the purpose of building the Empire State Building. The
building is 1,250 feet tall and has 102 floors.
Due to the Great Depression, the first year the building was open was rough. Today, the building is home to
offices as well as two observation decks: one at the 86th floor and
one on the 102nd floor.
The Empire State Building remains a cultural icon and a
symbol of New York City. It is often featured on book covers that take place in
New York City. In the Christmas movie, “Elf,” Buddy’s dad works in the Empire State
Building and it is a huge part of the movie. One of the most common images of
the building is King Kong scaling it and reaching the top from the outside.
It remains one of the most beloved and iconic buildings in
the city, attracting visitors from around the world.
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