The Construction of New York's Empire State Building

Since it was built, the Empire State Building has been attracting millions of tourists every year. This building is not only a national landmark and icon of New York City but a symbol of man’s attempt to achieve the impossible. The skyscraper is also the star in many movies such as An Affair to Remember, Sleepless in Seattle and King Kong. It stands out among the city’s skyline so people arriving by air, sea, or land can always pick out its distinctive shape (Britton 4). The Empire State Building is considered one of the eight wonders of the world and the people, the purpose, the construction, and the difficulties that went along with this wonder all started with a race to the sky.

First, the Empire State Building’s design and construction are testaments to the creativity and determination of the people that made this spectacular building a reality (Doherty 5). These people are John Jakob Raskob and Alfred E. Smith. Raskob was the president and finance committee chairman of General Motors and became a very rich man (Britton 10). Smith came from a very poor family and when his father died, he left school to get a job to support his family. Smith was a very hard worker and, in 1903, he was elected New York state representative. In 1918, he was elected governor (Britton 8 and 9). Raskob eventually resigned from General Motors and became a chairman of the Democratic National Committee. Raskob and Smith became friends through their mutual interest in the Democratic Party. In 1928, Smith was nominated as the Democratic Party’s candidate for president. Raskob managed Smith’s campaign (Britton 11). When Herbert Hoover won the election they both needed jobs, what they did next was a big surprise.

Furthermore, a...

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