Empire State Building Facts for Kids

Looking for fun Empire State Building facts for kids? You're in the right place! NYCtourist's Guide to Empire State Building History has all the Empire State Building facts and information you'll ever need! Among other things, you'll learn the height of the Empire State Building (is it still the tallest building in New York?), how many people died making the Empire State Building (you'll be surprised!), and the price of admission to Empire State Building (save on Empire State Building tickets with the New York Explorer Pass!).

Facts about Empire State Building for Kids:

Construction Started: 1929.

1929. Construction Completed: 1931.

1931. Number of People Who Died Making the Empire State Building: Five.

Five. Cost of Empire State Building: $40,948,900.

$40,948,900. Cost of Empire State Building Renovation (2011): $550 million.

$550 million. Empire State Building Height: 1,250 ft. to roof / 1,454 ft. to top of antenna spire.

1,250 ft. to roof / 1,454 ft. to top of antenna spire. Number of Stories in Empire State Building : 102.

: 102. Tallest Building in NYC: The Empire State Building was the tallest building in New York City for 40 consecutive years, from 1931, when it was completed, until 1972, when it was overtaken by the World Trade Center's North Tower. When the North Tower fell on September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York City.

The Empire State Building was the tallest building in New York City for 40 consecutive years, from 1931, when it was completed, until 1972, when it was overtaken by the World Trade Center's North Tower. When the North Tower fell on September 11, 2001, the Empire State Building once again became the tallest building in New York City. Empire State Building Floor Area: 2,768,591 sq. ft.

2,768,591 sq. ft. Empire State Building Managers: W&H Properties.

W&H Properties. Added to U.S. National Register of Historic Places: November 17, 1982.

November 17, 1982. Designated U.S. National Historic Landmark: June 14, 1986.

June 14, 1986. Cost of Admission to Empire State Building: Adults (18-61) - $17.61; Youth (12-17) - $15.76; Children (6-11) - $12.07; Seniors (62+) - $15.76; Toddlers (5 & younger) - Free; Military in Uniform - Free.

Empire State Building Trivia for Kids

Architectural drawings for the Empire State Building were drafted in a mere two weeks, using the original designs for the Reynolds Building in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and the Carew Tower in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a starting point.

To acknowledge the role these buildings played in the construction of the NYC landmark, the staff of the Empire State Building sends an annual Father's Day card to the staff at the Reynolds Building.

The Empire State Building was designed from bottom to top.

Construction of the Empire State Building required 3,400 workers, predominantly European immigrants and Mohawk iron workers.

At the time of construction, the Empire State Building was one of several buildings competing for the title of tallest building in New York City. The two other buildings, 40 Wall Street and the Chrysler Building, were surpassed upon completion of the Empire State Building in 1931, having held the title for less than a year.

In 1995, as part of a $300 million advertising campaign, the Empire State Building was lit up in blue, red, green, and yellow to celebrate the release of Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system.

Empire State Building History for Kids

The Empire State Building was completed in 1931, in the midst of the Great Depression. Upon completion, it became the tallest building in NY, surpassing the recently completed Chrysler Building, which had held the title for less than a year. Because of the ongoing Depression and the building's distance from public transportation, the Empire State Building had difficulty finding tenants, and for many years it was derisively referred to as the "Empty State Building." In fact, tenants were so few that in its first year of operation, the Empire State Building Observatory made as much money ($2 million) as the building's owners made in rent. It wasn't until the early 1950s, when the building was sold to Roger L. Stevens and his business partners, that the building began to be profitable.

Want more Empire State Building information? Visit our Empire State Building page, where you'll find Empire State Building pictures, nearby restaurants, and more!