Car Rental New York and the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is another one of New York's most recognizable landmarks as you drive through the city with your car rental in New York. When it was completed in 1931, it surpassed the Chrysler Building as the tallest building in New York, and kept that title for 40 years, when the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972. Since 2001, it is again the tallest building in New York.

A climb to the top

When you visit with your car rental in New York you will learn that the site of the Empire State Building was once an 18th century farm. In the 19th century it was the original location of the Waldorf Hotel, which was frequented by The Four Hundred, the social elite of New York. The design was completed in only two weeks, possibly from earlier designs for a tower in Ohio.

Construction of the building was really a race to the top rather than a climb. The Chrysler Building and 40 Wall Street were under construction and competing for the same title when the Empire State Building was started. Both held the title of the tallest building for less than a year. There were 3400 workers involved with the project, mostly immigrant workers from Europe and ironworkers from the Mohawk nation. During construction, five workers died, compared to zero involved in building the Chrysler Building. They were able to complete construction on the building in only 410 days. As dramatic as its construction, the official opening of the building was just as dramatic. President Herbert Hoover turned on the building's lights for the first time from Washington on May 1, 1931.

From high to low - rise and fall, and rise again

When you visit with your car rental in New York you will learn that the opening of the Empire State Building coincided with the Great Depression. And while there was initial excitement over the manmade marvel, much of the office space remained unrented because businesses just couldn't afford it. People began to call it the "Empty State Building". It wasn't until the 1950s that the building became profitable.

Calling all airships?

The distinctive spire of the building was originally designed to be a mooring mast for airships and dirigibles. The 102nd floor was supposed to be a landing platform, with an elevator from the 102nd floor to the 86ths floor where there is an observation deck. This plan was proven very ineffective and dangerous. The reason: the size of the building itself caused powerful updrafts that inhibited the ships from landing. The mooring device can still be seen today when you visit with your car rental in New York.

You can climb the Empire State Building, or rather ride up the elevator to the observation deck to look at some of the best views of Manhattan when you visit with your car rental in New York. The uniqueness of this building is that it has a classic façade on a modern building. You may also want to come back at night with your car rental in New York to see the building lit up in seasonal colors. This is a classic New York landmark that you will not want to miss.