Empire State Building New York
On the elevator ride to the observation deck of the Empire State Building, the Seven Wonders of the World are illuminated one by one. Some visitors are surprised to see an eighth - none other than the Empire State Building itself. It was that spirit of confidence (though some may see it as arrogance) that inspired the construction of the building in the middle of America's great depression. The building was actually a competition between two giants in the automobile industry, Walter Chrysler and John Jakob Raskob (creator of General Motors), to see who could construct the tallest building. The nation's fascination with skyscrapers generated a number of buildings in Manhattan, each outdoing the last. On May 1, 1931, the Empire State building opened to the public after a mere 13 months of construction; the framework rose at a rate of 41/2 stories per week, making it the fastest-rising major skyscraper ever built. The mast at the top of the building was originally designed to be a mooring point for dirigibles.

Over three million visitors a year make the climb to the building's open air observatory on the 86th story. Be advised, the winds are strong; but the views are magnificent. Day or night, this is a vista and an atmosphere that cannot be duplicated anywhere else in the world. An attraction within the building is New York Skyride. A simulated trip around New York City that takes advantage of a two-story tall screen and a computer driven motion system that puts you right in the middle of everything.

Official website www.esbnyc.com