What Is the Empire State Building Used For?

The Empire State Building has been used for many purposes since it was built. Today, the building with its own zip code is:

Home to more than 1000 businesses including offices and shops.
A major tourist attraction and offers observation decks where visitors are provided with a clear view of the Manhattan skyline, as well as with a view into the surrounding states of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and Massachusetts.

Past Uses for the Empire State Building

Office space and tourism were not always what the Empire State Building was used for.

When the Empire State Building was originally constructed, it was built for the sheer purpose of creating the tallest building and it really had no intended use.
When the Empire State Building was constructed, it was the tallest building ever built anywhere in the world. It remained the tallest building in the world from the time it completed construction in 1931 until 1972.
The building became a significant symbol for not only the people of New York, but also for the people of the United States, reflecting their ability to persevere during times of trouble. This symbolism occurred because the building was completed during the midst of the Great Depression.
At one point in time, it was thought that the building would be used to land zeppelins on the rooftop. However, the wind conditions at so many feet above ground made the landings for these air balloons impossible and dangerous. Therefore, the idea was squandered.

To understand the Empire State building, you may also want to know how and why it was constructed.

The competition to build the tallest building in the world was afoot in the first month of 1930.
The competition was between Walter Chrysler, who owned the Chrysler Corporation, and John Jakob Raskob, the creator of General Motors.
The design of the building was the responsibility of William Lamb, an architect for the firm Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon.
After the design was approved, construction of the Empire State Building began in March of 1930 and it was completed just 18 short months later.
The doors to the building were officially opened by President Herbert Hoover on May 1, 1931 from a special button placed in the White House.
The Empire State Building held the title as the world’s tallest building from 1931 to 1972. The height of the building was surpassed when the first World Trade Center was constructed.
The building was constructed on the site of the Waldorf Astoria hotel. The hotel was demolished and the pieces were auctioned off, reused, or disposed of off the coast of the Jersey Shore.
The completed construction of the building utilized 10 million bricks, 1172 miles of elevator cable, 6400 windows, and weighs in at an impressive 331,000 tons.

On October 26, 1986, the Empire State Building was declared a National Historic Landmark.