Construction Begins on the Empire State Building
At a glance:
- Series: Great Events from History II: Science and Technology Series
- Categories: Science, Technology, Inventions, Architecture
- Subcategories: Scientists, Engineering, Engineers, Architects
- Curriculum: American History 1901-1950
- Geographical Location: New York City
- Date: 1930
Article abstract: The Empire State Building, the tallest building in the world when it was completed in 1931 and for four decades after, stands as an engineering and architectural triumph.
Summary of Event
Before the advent of the skyscraper, the tallest buildings in American cities were churches. Commercial buildings were usually four to five stories high, which was about as high as most people were willing to climb to conduct their business. In 1852, an American mechanic named Elisha Graves Otis invented the elevator, which provided a rapid and safe...
[The entire page is 2075 words long]
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