The Empire State Building Exhibits: Explore the Tower's Fascinating History and Design

The “Site in the 1920s” exhibit takes you back to the Empire State Building in the 1920s. Go through the pictures and take a look at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, which existed where the ESB stands today. Explore what NYC looked like back then!

Visit the Construction Exhibit to see how the Empire State Building made its way of coming to life. Photographer Lewis Hine made this possible with his photographs of the construction stage. Watch as the sound and life-size video screens on the four walls and ceilings. Look at the different stages of construction, life-like bronze sculptures of construction workers, and so much more.

Live the experience of the Opening Day of the Empire State Building in 1930. Be a part of all the enthusiasm of the opening day with animated videos that will take you back to the 1930s. Listen to the newspaper boy screaming about the opening day news with cheer and awe.

​​​​​​The Modern Marvel exhibit features what measures were taken to make the Empire State Building a leader in a world of sustainability and energy efficiency. The Modern Marvel exhibit is also known as the Sustainability Exhibit. This step was taken in 2009 to use state-of-the-art technology to reduce energy usage and carbon emissions.

Otis Elevators are famous for being one of the most significant contributions to the construction of the building. The elevators exhibit features the latest technology used in building elevators. A fun fact is that the Otis Elevator carries almost 10 million guests up and down daily.

Get a glimpse of the major tenant spaces, amenities, and significant companies that have an office in the building at the Urban Campus. Spot the building's hidden views as you look at the people working there.

Witness the unique experience as you see the importance of the Empire State Building in modern pop culture. Watch the exhibit on a large 72-screen with a 180-degree view with 600 clips from across popular culture, media, films, TV shows, comics, and games.

Go through the most popular exhibit of ESB to experience the thrill of King Kong! One of the most famous facts about the Empire State Building was its debut in the 1933 King Kong film. Visit the legendary King Kong at the exhibit and touch Kong’s hands breaking through the walls!

The Empire State Building is a go-to place for every celeb and well-known personality from around the globe. Many celebrities have visited this sky-touching building and this exhibit has memorialized their visits. Look at pictures, souvenirs, and autographs adorning the walls to commemorate the visits of famous athletes, musicians, and actors. From Tylor Swift to BTS, you’ll find everyone here!

The NYC: Above and Beyond exhibits were created in partnership with NYC & Company. This exhibit is a fun one as it helps you create a personalized trip itinerary for the Empire State Building. You can also find out about all the best sites and attractions in NYC through this interactive exhibit.

Do you ever wonder how the musical light shows are created at the Empire State Building? If yes, then the Artistry in Light exhibit is for you! Learn about the light & sound show through a short film by world-renowned lighting designer Marc Brickman - a master of light creation.

Did you know that the world-famous artist Stephen Wiltshire resided on the 80th floor of the Empire State Building? The artist resided in the building when he drew a landscape drawing of New York City. He took the 45-minute helicopter ride above Manhattan before creating his magic completely from memory. Take a view of a 3-minute short film that shows the making of this marvelous drawing of New York City.

Take a look at breathtaking views of New York City through classic viewfinders at this unique exhibit. Move your viewfinder in different directions to get a good look at the best locations in the city! Witness and enjoy mesmerizing views of the 9 most famous attractions in NYC.