Community Chat

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

The Empire State Building opened officially on May 1, 1931.

The photos of its construction are breathtaking!  Professional photographers were hired to document the construction. 

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

Notice Gimbel's down on 34th Street!

[drizzellla]

Thanks for the photos @They CallMe MRWILKES .

I had heard these facts several years ago. And found it hard to believe -

The Empire State Building was constructed in 410 days (approximately 13 months) from the start of foundation work, though the total project timeline including planning and concurrent design was 18 months.

Still hard to believe.

PS - My Grandfather was an engineer for the American Bridge Company. He also worked on the Empire State Building.

When my Dad was 10 years old he and his Dad climbed up the suspension tower of the George Washington Bridge. Guess you didn't need roller coasters then. Just climb things being built.

[CANDLEQUEEN]

I am so afraid of heights, I can't imagine those men that high up just laying there or sitting there like its nothing! lol.... I have been up in the Empire State Building at least 4 or 5 times though-its beautiful...

[They CallMe MRWILKES]

President Hoover was present for opening day, with a ceremonial "turning on the lights."

[haddon9]

Amazing how those men were so fearless getting so high up with no safety lines!  Just looking at those photos of them makes me dizzy!

[MorningLover]

The Empire State Building opened in 1931 amid the Great Depression yet finished in just 410 days, turning economic despair into an enduring symbol of American grit.

"I most cordially congratulate you on the Empire State Building... and it must long remain one of the outstanding glories of a great city." — Herbert Hoover (May 1, 1931)

On this day, May 1, 1931, the iconic Empire State Building was dedicated and officially opened in New York City. Rising 102 stories to 1,250 feet at the roof (1,454 feet with its iconic spire), this Art Deco masterpiece was constructed in a record-breaking 410 days (just 13½ months) during the depths of the Great Depression — a stunning feat of American engineering that employed up to 3,400 workers at peak and was completed ahead of schedule and under budget.

Former Governor Alfred E. Smith led the ribbon-cutting with his grandchildren at the Fifth Avenue entrance, while President Herbert Hoover symbolically pressed a button from the White House to light up the building for the first time.

Guests, including then-Governor Franklin D. Roosevelt, gathered for a luncheon on the 86th-floor observatory, celebrating this beacon of resilience, vision, and ingenuity that held the title of the world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years.

[Bookplate]

Great photos; thanks for posting.  That picture of the men sitting so casually on the beam will never not make me queasy!

[geezerette]

I was interested in finding out how many deaths occurred during its building.  This is what I found:

Official records indicate that five workers died during the construction of the Empire State Building (1930–1931). The fatalities involved falls, a truck accident, a hoist accident, and a blast. While some reports have suggested higher numbers, five is the commonly cited figure for worker fatalities during the 13-month project.

Key Details Regarding Construction Safety:

• Total Deaths: Five workers.
• Causes of Fatalities: According to, these included falling from a scaffold, being hit by a truck, falling down an elevator shaft, being hit by a hoist, and a blast incident.
• Construction Duration: The building was completed in 13 months, or 410 days, using a team of roughly 3,400 workers.
• Context: While fatalities occurred, the rate was considered relatively low for a project of its size at the time.