Empire State Building Under Construction

A general view of Midtown Manhattan photographed north from the New York Life Insurance Building at Madison Square. Photograph by Ewing Galloway (1880-1953) taken in 1930 (about August). Source: Photographic views of New York City from the collections of the New York Public Library.

The Empire State Building is under construction in the center of the photo, at Fifth Avenue and 34th Street. Construction began on March 17, 1930, and it was officially opened on May 1, 1931. Other buildings in the picture are, to the left: the Navarre Mercantile Building at Seventh Avenue and 38th Street, the partially completed Nelson Tower at 450 Seventh Avenue between 34th and 35th streets (construction began in 1930 and it was completed in 1931), the Hotel New Yorker (completed in 1930) at Eighth Avenue and 34th Street. To the right: the Grand Central–42nd Street station, the 500 Fifth Avenue (under construction) at 42nd Street.