The Empire State Building, named by the
American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern
World, is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and West 34th Street.
Its name is derived from the
nickname for the state of New York.
It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its
completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Following
the destruction of the World Trade Center in 2001, the Empire State Building again became the tallest building in New York City and New York State.
Located on the 86th floor,
1,050 feet above the city's bustling streets, the Observatory, where Cary Grant
waited in vain for Deborah Kerr in an "Affair to Remember" and Tom
Hanks and Meg Ryan had their fateful meeting in the movie "Sleepless in
Seattle,” offers panoramic views from within a glass enclosed pavilion and from
the surrounding open-air promenade.
The building, one of New York City's main
tourist attractions, offers a variety of activities for its visitors. One can
tour the Observatory 365 days per year, day and night, rain or shine for
breathtaking views of Manhattan and beyond. Also, there are two restaurants, a sushi bar, three coffee shops, a
drug store, a Hallmark card shop, a post office and two banks, in addition to
the plethora of restaurants and nightlife activities in the surrounding area.