The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic structures in New York City. Standing at 1,454 feet tall, it was the world’s tallest building for nearly 40 years. The art deco skyscraper attracts millions of visitors each year who come to gaze at the city from its observation decks. The building has also been featured in countless movies, TV shows, and books. Let’s explore this historic landmark through 89 riddles!
General Riddles
Here are some general riddles about the Empire State Building to get us started:
Q: How many stories is the Empire State Building?
A: The Empire State Building has 102 stories.
Q: What color lights illuminate the top of the Empire State Building at night?
A: White lights illuminate the top of the building at night.
Q: In what year did construction on the Empire State Building begin?
A: Construction began in 1930.
Q: How many windows does the Empire State Building have?
A: There are 6,514 windows.
Q: What business occupied the Empire State Building at its opening in 1931?
A: The RKO movie production company was the first major tenant.
Construction
Let’s look at some riddles related to the construction of this iconic skyscraper:
Q: How long did it take to build the Empire State Building?
A: Construction took only 1 year and 45 days.
Q: On average, how many construction workers were on site each day during construction?
A: An average of 3,400 workers were on site daily.
Q: How many floors were constructed per week at the peak of construction?
A: 4.5 floors were built per week at the peak.
Q: What innovative construction method allowed the building to be completed so quickly?
A: Pre-fabricated materials and an assembly line approach were used.
Q: How much did it cost to construct the Empire State Building?
A: The total construction cost was $40,948,900.
Location
The Empire State Building occupies a prime spot in Manhattan. Test your knowledge of its location:
Q: What famous avenue is the Empire State Building located on?
A: Fifth Avenue.
Q: Which street runs perpendicular and forms the southern border of the building’s block?
A: 34th Street.
Q: What subway line has a stop right underneath the building?
A: The B, D, F, M, N, Q, R, and W trains stop at 34th Street-Herald Square Station under the building.
Q: Which neighborhood of Manhattan is home to the Empire State Building?
A: Midtown.
Q: What major public square is less than 1 mile northeast of the building?
A: Madison Square.
Observation Decks
The Empire State Building’s observation decks offer sweeping 360 degree views of New York City. Test your knowledge of these popular attractions:
Q: On which floor is the main observation deck located?
A: The 86th floor.
Q: How many states can be seen from the top on a clear day?
A: Views stretch to 5 neighboring states on a clear day.
Q: Which deck is the highest open-air observation deck in New York City?
A: The 102nd floor observatory is the highest in the city.
Q: About how many visitors go to the Empire State Building’s observatories each year?
A: Over 4 million visitors take in the views annually.
Q: What speed do the high-speed elevators travel at?
A: The elevators have a top speed of 1,000 feet per minute.
Height Records
For many years, the Empire State Building held the record title as the world’s tallest building. Test your knowledge of its records:
Q: For how many years was the Empire State Building the world’s tallest building?
A: It held the record for 42 years.
Q: What building surpassed it as the world’s tallest in 1972?
A: The original World Trade Center was taller at 1,368 feet.
Q: What is the current tallest building in New York City?
A: One World Trade Center, which reaches 1,776 feet tall.
Q: How many other skyscrapers exceeded the Empire State Building’s height before it lost its world record?
A: Only one, the original WTC.
Q: What is the Empire State Building’s rank today in terms of height worldwide?
A: It is currently the 45th tallest building in the world.
Lightning Strikes
The Empire State Building’s height makes it prone to lightning strikes. Test your knowledge of this:
Q: How many times per year is the Empire State Building struck by lightning on average?
A: Around 23 times per year.
Q: What is located at the top of the spire to help divert lightning strikes?
A: There is a lightning rod installed on the roof.
Q: Has the building ever been severely damaged by a lightning strike?
A: No, the steel structure has never been severely damaged.
Q: What causes the lightning that strikes the building?
A: Its height makes it prone to being hit by positively charged lightning leaders.
Q: In what year was the lightning rod first installed?
A: The first lightning rod was installed in 1931 shortly after construction was completed.
Pop Culture Appearances
The Empire State Building is an icon that frequently appears in movies, TV shows, books, and more. Test your pop culture knowledge:
Q: Which famous monster movie featured the Empire State Building prominently?
A: King Kong climbed the building in 1933.
Q: Name a romantic comedy film where the Empire State Building played a central role.
A: Sleepless in Seattle or An Affair to Remember.
Q: In which book does a gateway to fantasy world open at the Empire State Building?
A: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan.
Q: Which animated film features a climax atop the Empire State Building?
A: Elf.
Q: What 1980s pop song references standing on top of the Empire State Building?
A: Empire State of Mind by Billy Joel.
Tenants
A variety of businesses have called the Empire State Building home. Test your knowledge of its tenants:
Q: Which major clothing retailer occupied 6 floors of retail space for decades before closing in the 1990s?
A: Woolworth’s.
Q: What media company had its headquarters in the building for many years starting in the 1960s?
A: The Daily News.
Q: Which bank once occupied 4 high-profile floors with entrances directly on Fifth Avenue and 34th Street?
A: Bank of New York.
Q: What airline had its corporate headquarters in 22 floors of the building beginning in 1933?
A: Eastern Airlines.
Q: Which athletic footwear and apparel company now has its headquarters in the Empire State Building?
A: Nike.
Architecture and Design
The Empire State Building is an Art Deco architectural masterpiece. Test your knowledge of its iconic design:
Q: How many separately installed parts and materials are in the building?
A: Over 10 million by some estimates.
Q: What type of limestone covers the exterior facade?
A: Indiana limestone panels.
Q: How many staircases are in the building to enable evacuation?
A: There are 73 elevators and 1,860 stairs.
Q: What pattern are the metal window frames arranged in?
A: Vertically, to emphasize the building’s height.
Q: How many interior floors are double-height with mezzanines overlooking them?
A: 6 floors between the 5th and 8th floors.
Observation Decks
Here are some additional riddles about the Empire State Building’s famous observation decks:
Q: What color is the ceiling light fixture on the 102nd floor observatory?
A: Gold.
Q: About how many feet tall is the spire above the 102nd floor observatory?
A: Approximately 204 feet tall.
Q: On a clear day, about how far away can you see from the top deck?
A: 80 miles on average.
Q: What device can you pay to use on the observation deck for views through telescopes?
A: Viewfinders.
Q: Which nearby state’s skyline can be seen from the top?
A: New Jersey.
History
The Empire State Building has an eventful history. Test your knowledge:
Q: Why did the Empire State Building open well ahead of schedule in 1931?
A: To claim the title of world’s tallest building at the time.
Q: On what date did the Empire State Building open?
A: May 1, 1931.
Q: In 1945, a B-25 bomber crashed into which floor in a freak accident?
A: The 79th floor.
Q: When were the first public tours offered of the Empire State Building?
A: In 1953.
Q: Which president turned on the building’s lights to honor returning WW2 soldiers in 1945?
A: President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Conclusion
The Empire State Building is truly an iconic structure with a rich history. Exploring its many fascinating facts and stories through these riddles offers just a glimpse into what makes it such a renowned skyscraper. From lightning strikes to monster attacks, this building has endured it all while becoming embedded in pop culture and the New York City skyline. Even residents of the city would be sure to learn new and intriguing details after puzzling over these Empire State Building riddles and their answers!
