The Art Deco inspired Empire State Building is the tallest building in New York City (after the demised of the World Trade Center), the third in the USA and the 15th in the world. Ironically, this iconic structure in New York City?s skyline opened when the Great Depression hit USA, but now, it symbolizes a progressive and opulent New Yorker way of life.

Just recently, the Empire State Building has been recognized by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World. Interestingly, the floodlights which illuminate the building changes, depending on the season or in commemoration of specific occasions. For example, purple and white lights celebrate the graduation of students from the New York University while blue and white recognizes the graduates of Columbia University.

Since the skyscraper was finished in 1931, it has been a popular image and representation of the metropolitan New York lifestyle and has been used in pop culture several times especially in movies and television series. The Empire State Building has been central in the storylines of King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle.