The Empire State Building is one of the most iconic images of New York City. Constructed in a record-breaking one year and 45 days, the art deco building was planned to be the world’s first building with over 100 stories. It was built on the site of the original Waldorf Astoria Hotel on the corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street in Manhattan. When the building was completed in 1931, it became the world’s tallest building at 102 stories, changing New York City’s skyline forever. 

Over its nearly 100-year-history, the building has also caught the eye of generations of photographers, including many in the Library’s Digital Collections—from Lewis Wickes Hine (1874 – 1940), who captured photos of the building’s construction process, to Morris Huberland (1909 – 2003), who photographed New York City for decades in the latter half of the 20th century. 

Explore these photos of the Empire State Building over the years, from #NYPLDigitalCollections. 

See more photos of the Empire State Building in #NYPLDigitalCollections.