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New York Travel Guide and Information Resource
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new york empire state building
The Empire State building remains New York's most famous skyscraper standing at 443 meters or 1454ft. Built in 23 weeks it was opened in 1931 to crowds of people and remains one of the top draws to the city. New York Empire State building has got to be one of top items on your must do list when on a New York weekend break. empire state building overview In total approximately ten million bricks line the building. The Empire State's framework is made from around 60,000 tonnes of steel and aluminium panels were used instead of stone around windows. The building is a vast 86 storeys high with an 150ft mooring mast right at the top. This mast transmits TV and radio to New York city and four surrounding states but its initial purpose was as a tethering rope for zeppelins. It has never been used for this purpose - mainly due to the safety hazards associated with the New York Empire State building's higher than average number of lightening strikes! That said the views from its 86th floor observatory make it one of the top New York city things to do - not least in its ability to help you navigate the Island from one venue to the other. As well as being an impressive building from the outside its bronze Art Deco medallions decorating the doorways and in lobby as well as many other internal fittings and decor make it as impressive internally as the image of the lobby above testifies. On entering the Empire State New York building a series of queues await you most of the time. After the initial queue for tickets then you queue for the first elevator which takes you up to the 80th floor where you exit to queue for the final elevator which takes you up to the 86th floor and the beautiful views of New York city. To reduce the waiting times if you get the combo ticket (observatory and skyride view) you can jump most or the really long initial queue by doing the skyride view first. This is a fun simulated helicopter flight around the major sights of the city with commentary by Kevin Bacon. Once out of the ride you rejoin the rest of the queue for the first lift not far from the lift doors. When exiting the first lift you then join the final queue for the lift to the 86th floor observatory and observation deck made even more notable in films such as An Affair to Remember and Sleepless in Seattle. Whilst queuing expect your photo to be taken next to a cardboard photo of the Empire state along with a number to purchase the photo's at the end of your visit - you can always turn down the developed prints at the end if not wanted - just get used to their disappointed faces - spending money is customary in NYC. After this point you can skip the rest of the queue (which can be in excess of 30 minutes) by choosing to walk up the remaining six flights of stairs to come out next to the elevator and pour through the gift shop out onto the usually crowded observation deck. If arriving early enough you may well miss the hordes of visitors and get some fantastic shots of the city. Well worth the investment is an audio tour by Tony the taxi cab driver around the observation deck illuminating much interesting historical information as well as local customs in entertaining fashion. empire state new york further information 350 Fifth Avenue (between 33rd and 34th Streets) New York,
NY 10118. |
