Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Completed in 1931, it stood as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years at 1,454 feet (443 m) including its antenna. Its distinctive setbacks, stainless steel spire, and limestone facade epitomize 1930s modernism. Today it houses offices, observatories (86th & 102nd floors), and exhibits, attracting millions of visitors annually as a symbol of American ambition and engineering.