http://www.life.com/images/logo.png http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/23044/empire-state-building-made-by-hand http://www.life.com/image/3199737 The 102-story Art Deco tower in Midtown Manhattan known as the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world from its completion on May 1, 1931, until the World Trade Center eclipsed it in 1972. It was the product of the labor of 3,400 men.]]> 3199737 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST The 102-story Art Deco tower in Midtown Manhattan known as the Empire State Building was the tallest building in the world from its completion on May 1, 1931, until the World Trade Center eclipsed it in 1972. It was the product of the labor of 3,400 men.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/83181974 Most of the men who worked on the building were European immigrants. They were joined by hundreds of Mohawk iron workers, many from a reserve near Montreal.]]> 83181974 Wed, 01 Jan 1930 03:00:00 EST Most of the men who worked on the building were European immigrants. They were joined by hundreds of Mohawk iron workers, many from a reserve near Montreal.]]> George Eastman House 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199753 Two construction workers rivet on the edge of a steel girder on the mooring mast of the Empire State Building in 1931. ]]> 3199753 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST Two construction workers rivet on the edge of a steel girder on the mooring mast of the Empire State Building in 1931. ]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199755 A view of the uncompleted Empire State Building from the Chrysler Building. The Chrysler Buidling, which is 1,047 feet tall, was the tallest building in the world for 11 months before being surpassed by the ESB.]]> 3199755 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A view of the uncompleted Empire State Building from the Chrysler Building. The Chrysler Buidling, which is 1,047 feet tall, was the tallest building in the world for 11 months before being surpassed by the ESB.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3172523 An engineer makes sure everything's on the level as the Empire State Building is constructed. In a wind of 110 miles an hour, the building moves only about a quarter inch on either side.]]> 3172523 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST An engineer makes sure everything's on the level as the Empire State Building is constructed. In a wind of 110 miles an hour, the building moves only about a quarter inch on either side.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199736 Construction workers stand among steel beams during a quick break. The building was, astoundingly, completed in only 410 days, or 7 million man hours, after the start of construction, still a record for a skyscraper of its size.]]> 3199736 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST Construction workers stand among steel beams during a quick break. The building was, astoundingly, completed in only 410 days, or 7 million man hours, after the start of construction, still a record for a skyscraper of its size.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199754 A worker pulls a rope to guide a beam. The building boasts a total floor area of 2,768,591 square feet, and covers a base of about two acres. There are 70 miles of pipe in the building.]]> 3199754 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A worker pulls a rope to guide a beam. The building boasts a total floor area of 2,768,591 square feet, and covers a base of about two acres. There are 70 miles of pipe in the building.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3172515 A worker lifts an object with a pulley. The building houses 2,500,000 feet of electrical wire, and some 9,000 faucets]]> 3172515 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A worker lifts an object with a pulley. The building houses 2,500,000 feet of electrical wire, and some 9,000 faucets]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/83181996 Workmen ready themselves for more construction on the mooring mast. On a clear day, you can see five states from the top of the building.]]> 83181996 Wed, 01 Jan 1930 03:00:00 EST Workmen ready themselves for more construction on the mooring mast. On a clear day, you can see five states from the top of the building.]]> George Eastman House 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3172637 A construction team establishes a corner joint of the mooring mast. At one time, there were 255 carpenters, 290 bricklayers, 384 brick laborers, 107 derrick men, 285 steel men, 249 elevator installers, 105 electricians, 192 plumbers, 194 heating and ventilating men, and trade specialists, inspectors, checkers, foremen, clerks, and water boys at work on the building.]]> 3172637 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A construction team establishes a corner joint of the mooring mast. At one time, there were 255 carpenters, 290 bricklayers, 384 brick laborers, 107 derrick men, 285 steel men, 249 elevator installers, 105 electricians, 192 plumbers, 194 heating and ventilating men, and trade specialists, inspectors, checkers, foremen, clerks, and water boys at work on the building.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199738 Workers crouch on the corner of a steel beam high above the city. There are 1,860 steps from the ground floor to the 102nd story.]]> 3199738 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST Workers crouch on the corner of a steel beam high above the city. There are 1,860 steps from the ground floor to the 102nd story.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199740 A worker uses a wrench on the edge of a beam high above the city, with the Chrysler Building in the background. It took 10 million bricks and 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone to build the ESB.]]> 3199740 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A worker uses a wrench on the edge of a beam high above the city, with the Chrysler Building in the background. It took 10 million bricks and 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone to build the ESB.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199741 A worker clutches onto a steel girder high above the city. Five men died accidentally during construction: one struck by a truck; another who fell down an elevator shaft; a third hit by a hoist; a fourth in a blast area; and a fifth who fell off a scaffold, according to records. More than 30 people committed suicide by jumping off the building over the years.]]> 3199741 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A worker clutches onto a steel girder high above the city. Five men died accidentally during construction: one struck by a truck; another who fell down an elevator shaft; a third hit by a hoist; a fourth in a blast area; and a fifth who fell off a scaffold, according to records. More than 30 people committed suicide by jumping off the building over the years.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199735 A man sits on a hoisting ball, with the Chrysler Building and the Queensboro Bridge in the background. It took nearly $41 million to build the ESB.]]> 3199735 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST A man sits on a hoisting ball, with the Chrysler Building and the Queensboro Bridge in the background. It took nearly $41 million to build the ESB.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199648 Workers rivet a steel girder on top of the mooring mast. The building is struck by lightning about 100 times a year.]]> 3199648 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST Workers rivet a steel girder on top of the mooring mast. The building is struck by lightning about 100 times a year.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3199749 Riveters create the steel framework of the mooring mast for the ESB. The spire was originally meant to be a mooring mast for dirigible aircraft, but the idea was quickly scrapped after high winds during the first attempts made it obvious that docking blimps there would likely invite disaster.]]> 3199749 Thu, 01 Jan 1931 03:00:00 EST Riveters create the steel framework of the mooring mast for the ESB. The spire was originally meant to be a mooring mast for dirigible aircraft, but the idea was quickly scrapped after high winds during the first attempts made it obvious that docking blimps there would likely invite disaster.]]> Lewis W. Hine 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/51162790 Construction workers celebrate the completion of the iron work in 1930. When the building was fully complete on May 1, 1931, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C., that turned on the building's lights.]]> 51162790 Wed, 01 Jan 1930 03:00:00 EST Construction workers celebrate the completion of the iron work in 1930. When the building was fully complete on May 1, 1931, President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C., that turned on the building's lights.]]> FPG 2009 gettyImages.com http://www.life.com/image/3382643 The Empire State Building glows in 1932. When it opened, the Great Depression had just begun, and the ESB struggled to find renters. Now it's the second-biggest office complex in the U.S., with 21,000 workers and its own ZIP code.]]> 3382643 Fri, 01 Jan 1932 03:00:00 EST The Empire State Building glows in 1932. When it opened, the Great Depression had just begun, and the ESB struggled to find renters. Now it's the second-biggest office complex in the U.S., with 21,000 workers and its own ZIP code.]]> Fox Photos 2009 gettyImages.com