The Empire State Building is one the most recognizable and world-renown buildings in the world. Situated at 350 Fifth Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, the Empire State Building at 1,454 feet is the tallest building in New York City and the second tallest building in the United States behind the Sears Tower in Chicago. The Empire State Building has two observation decks on the 86th and 102nd floor that offer breathtaking panoramic views of New York City and the surrounding areas. Over 117 million people have visited the Empire State Building since it opened in 1931, and over 3.5 million people visit the building each year.
Over the years many famous celebrities and dignitaries have visited the Empire State Building and its observation decks. In 1957 Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip visited the Empire State Building and enjoyed the view from the 86th floor observation deck. Queen Elizabeth described the view as the most beautiful thing she had ever seen. Fidel Castro, Nikita Krushchev, and even Lassie have also enjoyed views from the Empire State Building’s observation deck.
The skyscraper’s observation deck is also the site of several romantic get aways in movie classics such as An Affair To Remember, Love Affair and Sleepless in Seattle. The observation deck also was the site of a Martian invasion on an old episode of I Love Lucy.
The Empire State Building’s observation decks are open 7 days a week from 8 am to 2 am in the morning. Tickets can be purchased for either the 86th floor observatory, which offers views from 1,50 feet over New York City or 102nd floor observatory that is 1,250 feet above the ground. There is also an optional prerecorded audio that can be purchased for an additional fee. The narrator of the guided tour is a fictional native New Yorker named Tony from Chelsea. Tony gives his point of view and observations and insights on various parts of New York City and the Empire State Building.
Visitors to the 86th floor observatory take a high-speed elevator up to the 86th floor. The observation deck has both an outdoor promenades on all four sides of the building and a glass-enclosed area that is cooled in the summer and heated in the winter. There are also high-powered binoculars available along the promenade. For an additional fee, visitors can choose to visit the 102nd floor observation deck.
The 360-degree panoramic views from the observation decks are breathtaking and far- reaching. On clear days visitors can see distances up to 80 miles with views of not only New York City, but parts of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania as well. Looking to the east, one can see bridges spanning the East River, connecting Queens and Brooklyn to Manhattan. To the south, the harbor and Financial District are visible. To the west are Macys, Madison Square Garden, the Hudson River and New Jersey. Looking to the north is Fifth Avenue pointing toward Rockefeller Center and Central Park. It truly is a magnificent site to see, from one of the most historic buildings and landmarks in the world.