Empire State Building, U.S.

We couldn't compile a list of notable structures without mentioning this magnificent Art Deco skyscraper. The Empire State Building, once the tallest structure in the world, had its construction start on St. Patrick's Day 1930, and end just 410 days later.

In no film or television program was it ever finished without showing up on the screen. The Empire State Building, a National Historic Landmark proudly constructed in 1930 and 1931, is the most recognizable symbol of New York.

Due to the Great Depression, the building sat vacant for the next twenty years. The Empire State Building, a timeless monument of the great American city, has seen a lot more in its life. It has survived a plane crash in 1945, shootings in 1997, and more than 30 suicides, but it remains an iconic architectural wonder today.

William F Lamb of the architectural firm Shreve, Lamb, and Harmon designed the iconic building. It was named one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers and is recognized around the world as an icon of New York City.

Completed: 1931
Function: Office building; observation decks
Architect: William F Lamb
Location: New York, United States