Behind the Scenes at the Empire State Building For Its 95th Anniversary
- Christianne Klein
- May 24
- 4 min read
There are certain places in the world that instantly stop you in your tracks the moment you see them. The Eiffel Tower. The Sydney Opera House. The Colosseum. But few buildings carry the emotional and cultural weight of the Empire State Building.
And on our recent trip to New York City, we had the opportunity to experience this iconic landmark just days before its 95th anniversary celebration - a milestone that feels especially meaningful for a building that has quite literally shaped the skyline, spirit, and storytelling of America for nearly a century.
From the moment you walk into the lobby, there’s a feeling that you are stepping into history. Its stunning Art Deco design, from the iconic façade to the elegant geometric details woven throughout the interiors, is an architectural masterpiece and an important piece of American history in its own right. Opened in 1931 during the depths of the Great Depression, the Empire State Building was constructed in an astonishing 410 days and became the tallest building in the world at the time. For generations, it has stood as a symbol of ambition, resilience, innovation, and the unmistakable energy of New York City itself.
But what surprised us most during this visit was just how immersive and modern the experience has become.
A few years ago, the Empire State Building completed a massive reimagination of its observatory experience, transforming the visit into far more than just “going to the top.” Today, guests move through an incredibly interactive museum before heading upstairs - a beautifully designed journey through the building’s engineering, construction, pop culture legacy, celebrity connections, and place in global history.
The museum itself is worth the visit.
Interactive exhibits transport guests back to the 1930s construction era, showcasing the workers who built the skyscraper high above Manhattan with breathtaking archival photography and recreations. Other exhibits explore the building’s appearances in film and television - from King Kong (yes, you absolutely need the photo in King Kong’s giant hand) to countless romantic comedies, action films, and unforgettable television moments that cemented the building as a true cultural icon.
You don’t just learn about the Empire State Building - you experience how deeply woven it is into American culture.
One of the highlights of our visit was getting rare behind-the-scenes access to the legendary greenroom used by celebrities, performers, musicians, athletes, and public figures who film, perform, or appear at the building for special events and concerts.
The room almost feels like a secret museum hidden inside the tower.
Walls are lined with signed memorabilia, photographs, instruments, and personal notes from stars who have passed through over the years. Everyone from Taylor Swift to BTS, Jimmy Fallon, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ed Sheeran has spent time there, adding to a collection that captures decades of pop culture history inside one of the world’s most recognizable buildings.
It’s one of those unexpected moments that reminds you the Empire State Building is not just a historic landmark - it’s still very much alive in modern culture.
And then, of course, comes the moment everyone waits for: the ascent to the top. The ride in the elevator itself echoes the speed of the actual build, and has its own animation of the build projected on the roof of the elevator as you make your way up. You no longer pay attention to your ears popping on the ascent, because the experience itself is so exciting.
What many visitors don’t realize is that there are actually two observation levels. The famous 86th-floor observatory is the large open-air deck most people recognize from films and photographs, offering sweeping 360-degree views of Manhattan, Central Park, the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn, and beyond.
But there’s also a second, higher tier: the 102nd-floor observatory.
Smaller, more intimate, and even more jaw-dropping, the upper observatory feels almost surreal - as if you’re floating above New York City itself. The newly redesigned floor-to-ceiling glass panels make the experience feel immersive and cinematic, especially at sunset when the city begins to glow beneath you.
Visiting just before the Empire State Building’s 95th anniversary made the experience feel even more emotional. Very few buildings remain this culturally relevant after nearly a century. Fewer still continue reinventing themselves while preserving the history and magic that made them legendary in the first place.
In a city filled with world-famous landmarks, the Empire State Building still somehow manages to feel bigger than all of them.
And after seeing it from behind the scenes, it’s easy to understand why.
Christianne Klein is an Emmy® and Edward R. Murrow Award-winning TV Host, journalist, travel and lifestyle expert, and founder of FoodFamilyTravel.com.
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