Empire State Building
 

I may be risking alienation here, but I feel compelled to say this.

I was pretty dissappointed with my recent visit to the Empire State Building. The view was impressive, and I'm glad to say I've "been there"...but the rest of the experience was, well, tacky. I was so surprised at how "make-shift" and unprofessional things were. I expected long lines, but I was surprised by the dingy hallways, lack of climate control (it was suffocating waiting in line), the hand-made signs and the general run-down appearance of the building and the displays. I was there with my daughter and her friend from Japan. I found myself being embarrassed about one of our "national landmarks", rather than proud. Also, while I understand the motivation for souvenir sales, I found myself resenting the way they herd the public through the "picture line", rather than giving visitors the option to either wait in line for picture purchase or simply leave the building (which was our choice).

I pretty much love all things New York, but I hate to say that I would not recommend a visit to the Empire State Building to anyone. There are other, more enjoyable ways to take in a view of the city. It's a shame that with all that visitor money being funnelled through the Empire State Building, they aren't using more of it to spiff the place up.

Interesting thought. I had never gone to the Empire State Building until about two years ago. I thought it was fine, but I was looking at it as a way to see this fine "old" skyscraper. I loved the interior art deco interiors, and they seemed really well polished and kept up. In would be wrong to do anything like change the elevators to something more modern, or add brighter lighting to the corridors. I don't want to see a "modern" building.

On the other hand regarding the "tourist control", perhaps since the end of the World Trade Center, the Empire State is really overtaxed with more tourists these days and they just haven't figured out how to "get it all together" for such masses of people.

I worked in the Empire State Building earlier this year, and I can attest to the crazy climate control, (we were hot in the winter and cold in the summer, and 9 times out of 10 we had to open the windows).

As for renovations, bear in mind how big the building is and how much money it would actually take. I know they were doing construction while I was there, but it was progressing relatively slowly due to having to work around the tourists and employees. No easy feat. I am sure one day it will be renovated and restored to it's original splendor, but when it will happen is anyone's guess. But the main attraction for seeing the building is the view after all, so maybe they're not concerned with the rest of the details.

We recently had friends visit who felt the same way you do. It's still a favorite of ours though even though we live here. We go 2 or 3 times a year. We always go really late (10:30pm or 10:45pm) since I hate to wait in line. I wouldn't go if we had to wait an hour in line.

Patrick is probably right about them being overtaxed. I grew up here but I never went to the Empire State building until I was an adult. When I was younger we always went to the WTC or Rockefeller Center (the RCA building had an observation deck which is now closed).

Regarding the WTC, we recently went to the New York Historical Museum and they had an amazing recreation of the view from the South Tower. An artist painted a a big globe in painstaking detail. As you walk around the globe you get a 360 degree view of what it was like to stand on top of the south tower.

When I see the Empire State Building, all I see is a gorgeous limestone deco treasure.

Let's not forget that the Empire State Building does not exist to entertain tourists (and locals alike) and it's more than an observation deck. It's an active, working commercial center -- about 11 zillion people work in the art deco wonder (rough estimate). I'm sure to the people who work there and the company that manages the building, the observation deck is an annoying distraction.

Climate control has always been a problem in NYC, especially in older buildings. There are gap periods, usually October and April, where they turn the AC off, but haven't turned the heat on and vice versa. You can sometimes witness this in Macy's in December when they have the heat on and ten trillion people are in the store. They heat is not lowered to accommodate the large crowds.

Well, Gekko, the topic was the experience of visiting the observation deck and not the historical, architectural or commercial value of the building.

I was there for the first time (even though I live in Jersey ! :) ) last winter, after the big snow storm. I went up with my friend, who was in town playing with the Czech Philharmonic, and we went up late on a Sunday night. NO lines, VERY cold, but a great view. Yes, the place has tacky tourist signs. I think I would have had a completely different experience, if I had been stuck waiting in a long line with tourists.

"the topic was the experience of visiting the observation deck and not the historical, architectural or commercial value of the building."
I don't see how the two can be seperated. You are visiting the building. It's sole purpose is not to be an entertainment facility. It does have historical and archectural value!
While the view is wonderful, the building itself is also.
glamrgal, don't be embarrassed, it is still the Empire State Building and you can't see it in California or Ohio.
It is still a landmark that we can all enjoy the sight of.

The Empire State building is an architectural gem. Visiting the observation deck is a hugely popular "tourist" destination, which is accessed from the BASEMENT elevators, hence the less than attractive surroundings and "climate control", surely not a representation of the rest of the building.

We've visited many times (most recently a few months ago) and I've no idea what you mean by the "picture line". I suppose we skipped or somehow managed to bypass that.

Everything on the ground floor could not be "classier".

All in all, when one visits any heavily touristed desintation, being "herded" via less than comfortable and attractive hallways and elevators is surely the norm, not to mention "souvenir" purchasing opportnities.

I, for one, would be very much interested in your recommendations for "other more enjoyable ways to see the city".

I enjoyed visiting the Empire State Building more than the Eiffel Tower. (though I would rather visit Pairs than NYC:-)

Keith

Scarlett, they are separate because visiting the observation deck is not the best way to enjoy the building. As others have pointed out the area you are in before boarding the elevators - where people often wait for a long time - is not attractive and often doesn't even look like it has been cleaned recently.

I find this thread interesting and wish to insert here another visitors opinion:

"One of the first things we did on our trip to the city that Ayn Rand loved so dearly and where she made her home as she finished 'Atlas Shrugged' was to venture to the Empire State Building. Like a lone sentinel of concrete, glass, and steel, this skyscraper stands apart and aloof from the other massive structures dominating the New York City skyline. A failed experiment to shift the center of commerce and construction, the Empire State Building now enjoys even more celebrity because of its very solitude. "

I think that says very well that while the Empire State Building is perhaps a little worn, it is not tacky, it has far more importance to most people than just being a Tourist Attraction and perhaps some people should try not to look at it as a Disney-esque entertainment.

Wow, I find it amazing that someone cannot criticize the experience of visiting the observation deck without being accused of not valuing or appreciating the building. I guess glamrgal foresaw this reaction and that's why she felt compelled to preface her message the way she did.

For us personally, we love this building so much that we chose our present apartment almost solely because it has a direct and unobstructed view of the Empire State building! And yet I can totally sympathize with her disappointment in the experience that is provided to most visitors.

Hi JeanG
I think it is perfectly natural for people who like the Empire State Building to defend it when someone makes such a critical remark.
Just as glamgal felt free to say what she thought about it, others feel just as free to respond.
Maybe using the words "tacky" and saying she "was embarrassed" were less than diplomatic ways to describe her failure to appreciate the Empire State Building.
We wouldn't want this to be the only opinion expressed would we? Then others might not visit.

Whoa!

First of all...thank you JeanG for actually reading my post, rather than reading into it. You obviously understood my comments. And even though you are someone who loves the Empire State Building, you did not feel personally attacked by my criticisms. I appreciate your kind comments.

Of course the Empire State Building is an "architectural gem". And historically important. And an art deco treasure. And I do understand that the Empire State Buidling is an active, working commercial center. And as a business owner with a healthy respect for doing what needs to be done to "make a buck", I have no problem with the Empire State Building folks seizing the opportunity to sell souveniers.

However...surely no one here can argue the fact that for the multitude of visitors to the Empire State Building, the observation deck is pretty important. And all the time a visitor spends waiting for the observation deck is a part of the entire experience. The Empire State Building welcomes visitors from everywhere in the world. So, in my opinion, the Empire State Building should have on it's "Sunday best" in the places where so many kazillions of visitors will be. You know...put out the good china...put up the nice guest towels...or at least sweep the floor...because "Company is Coming!"

This is New York City, people. Probably the best city in the world. And the Empire State Building is practically synonymous with New York City to many visitors. My original comments were meant to convey my dissappointment with the (yes) tacky and embarrassing display that greets the tourist who visits the observation deck. And because this visitor waited so long in line at so many points along the way, I had a lot of opportunity to observe chipped paint, displays put together with masking tape, signs that looked like a 10-year old drew them, and plain old dirt.

All of this is not the Empire State Building's fault. She is a grand old dame who deserves better.

And that was all I was trying to say.

glamrgal, no offense but in your original post you wrote;

"....but the rest of the experience was, well, tacky...makeshift....dingy hallways..I found myself embarrassed about one of our National Landmarks..I would not recommend a visit to the Empire State Building to anyone."

Then, in you last post you wrote:

"Of course the Empire State Building is an "architectural gem". And historically important. And an art deco treasure."

I am having trouble, do you think it is a dump or a gem?

I thought the same when I visited it 10 years ago. It's an architectural landmark treated like a dump (or rather, like a cash machine). Seemed like a matter of lazy building management more than anything else.

Just my opinion....I understand how you all feel but some of the things people are saying they don't like I didn't mind at all...it seemed very "real" to me instead of a glitzy, overpainted, fake landmark. It was very "New York", what you see is what you get. NYC is not Las Vegas. It is an old building and I enjoyed the experience for what it was and wasn't disappointed.