The site of the Empire State Building was first developed as John Thomson's Farm in the late 18th century. At that time, a stream ran throughout the site, flowing into Sunfish Pond, located one block away. The site was later occupied by the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in the late 19th century, and was frequented by "The Four Hundred", New York's social elite.
-1928
The original location of the famous Waldorf Astoria Hotel on Fifth Avenue was sold to Bethlehem Engineering Corporation for about $20 million. Within a few years, the building was demolished and its site became home to the world's most ambitious construction project: the Empire State Building.
-1930
Construction of the Empire State Building begins on March 17. Centrally located on Fifth Avenue, it will be the world's first 100+ story building. Under the supervision of architects Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates and builders Starrett Bros. & Eken, the structure is rising at a rate of four and a half stories a week.
-1931
The building is completed in a record 1 year and 45 days. The 102-story building is the talk of the town, and on May 1, President Hoover pushes a button in Washington, D.C., officially dedicating the building and turning on the lights of the Empire State Building for the first time.
-1946
Fifteen years after its opening, the Empire State Building had become the headquarters of several large organizations and housed approximately 15,000 employees. At the time, the Empire State Building was one of the most profitable buildings and one of the most recognizable and appreciated works of architecture.
-1955
The American Society of Civil Engineers chooses the Empire State Building as one of the seven greatest engineering achievements in American history, along with the Hoover Dam and the Panama Canal; this is one of many distinctions the building has received over the years.
-1976
The Empire State Building observation deck welcomes its 50 millionth visitor. Today, our impressive observation decks welcome more than four million visitors a year.
-1981
On May 18, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission declares the Empire State Building a landmark.
