48. A Building for the Empire State

The Empire State Building may be the most building in New York City. It is called Empire State Building because New York State is the Empire State. It is 1,454 feet tall. people think it is the tallest building in world. This was true when it was built 1931. In 1970, when the World Trade Center built, that became the tallest building. Now, the State building is the fourth tallest building in U.S. and the 23rd tallest in the world. the building is mostly occupied by offices and .

People can go to the top of the , where there is an observation deck. From the there are beautiful views of New York City, at night. Most people take one of 73 to the top. It takes less than one by elevator to get to the 80th floor. is where there is a gift shop. Some walk 1,860 steps to the top. Every year is even a race, with people competing to who can walk up to the top the .

The landmark is not just famous because of height. In 1945, a small plane crashed into . More than 30 people have tried to kill by jumping off the building. In 1933 it featured in the movie King Kong, where a gorilla climbs to the top and falls to death after being attacked by airplanes. The building also in the movie Sleepless in Seattle with Hanks.

At night, the top of the Empire Building is lit up in different colors. It red and green on Christmas, red for Lunar Year, and blue for Hanukah. On the Fourth July it is red, white, and blue.