MuseumPlanet.com
Empire State Building & Vicinity from www.museumplanet.com
Contracts to build the Empire State Building were only signed weeks before the stock market crash of 1929. The major owners were John J. Raskob and Pierre S. du Pont. Alfred E. Smith was head of the corporation. Construction began during the Great Depression, in March of 1930, on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. It was completed a short 14 months later in May, 1931. There are 2.7 million square feet of office space. Nearly 15,000 people work there on a daily basis.
It was designed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon Associates.
Pierre du Pont, John J Raskob and the Tammany Hall-friendly ex-Governor of New York, Alfred E Smith, made an interesting group. Pierre du Pont was part owner of Du Pont Chemical, which started as a munitions maker. He was also, until 1928, the chairman and largest stockholder in General Motors Corporation. Raskob, a GM executive, had started out as du Pont's secretary. Alfred E. Smith, chairman of the Empire State Building Corporation, was the first Roman Catholic to run for president, in 1928. The building had financial muscle and political influence. Pierre du Pont was a staunch Republican. Raskob, his aide, was Catholic. Smith was a clean member of Tammany Hall. The Empire State building a speculative development was also intended to be the tallest building in the world and specifically, to be taller than General Motor's rival, the Chrysler Building on East 42nd Street, being built by Walter Chrysler.
www.museumplanet.com has narrated slide tours of historic sites in Venice, Italy and New York City. There are over 4,500 over monitor size photos. Each slide has audio narration and text.
Empire State Building & Vicinity from www.museumplanet.com
Contracts to build the Empire State Building were only signed weeks before the stock market crash of 1929. The major owners were John J. Raskob and Pierre S. du Pont. Alfred E. Smith was head of the corporation. Construction began during the Great Depression, in March of 1930, on the site of the old Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at 350 Fifth Avenue at 34th Street. It was completed a short 14 months later in May, 1931. There are 2.7 million square feet of office space. Nearly 15,000 people work there on a daily basis.
It was designed by the architectural firm of Shreve, Lamb, & Harmon Associates.
Pierre du Pont, John J Raskob and the Tammany Hall-friendly ex-Governor of New York, Alfred E Smith, made an interesting group. Pierre du Pont was part owner of Du Pont Chemical, which started as a munitions maker. He was also, until 1928, the chairman and largest stockholder in General Motors Corporation. Raskob, a GM executive, had started out as du Pont's secretary. Alfred E. Smith, chairman of the Empire State Building Corporation, was the first Roman Catholic to run for president, in 1928. The building had financial muscle and political influence. Pierre du Pont was a staunch Republican. Raskob, his aide, was Catholic. Smith was a clean member of Tammany Hall. The Empire State building a speculative development was also intended to be the tallest building in the world and specifically, to be taller than General Motor's rival, the Chrysler Building on East 42nd Street, being built by Walter Chrysler.
www.museumplanet.com has narrated slide tours of historic sites in Venice, Italy and New York City. There are over 4,500 over monitor size photos. Each slide has audio narration and text.