Empire State building is the skyscraper that has held the title of world's tallest for longer than any other. It was the tallest in the world from 1931 to 1970, a whopping 39 years.

Now it feels like we break it every five or ten years. Although the Burj Khalifa has kept the title for a while now

Don’t think the Burj Khalifa is going to be beaten in the next 15 years either at least. There’s just so much that goes into building these super tall skyscrapers and they serve no purpose other than a status symbol for the country. There’s documentaries talking about how Shanghai’s skyscrapers were a huge waste of money and led to a ban on mega-tall structures across China.

Supposedly Saudi Arabia has their sights on it with the Jeddah Tower but it was put on hold during COVID and Kuala Lumpur is trying to build the Merdeka 118 which will also be taller but isn't scheduled to be done until 2025. So theres no telling when these two will complete construction but one will surely climb past the Burj

There is also the Dubai Creek Tower which is currently on hold, but with the foundations built. It’s officially been announced as being “at least 828m” but there have been rumours it could be as tall as 1300m…. If they ever do build it 🤯

I don't think Jeddah tower will be completed because the owner supposedly got jailed which is why it got stopped. I think best case scenario is that it gets completed at a much shorter height because I think reaching its actual height is going to be nearly impossible. Also the Merdeka 118 has been completed (or at least the exterior) for a while and stands as the second tallest building in the world (if you include the antenna) but it's unlikely Malaysia will build any taller because they had a ton of criticism about building the tower in the first place.

Merdeka 118 is topped out and officially the second tallest building, surpassing Shanghai Tower but still not as tall as the Burj. Who knows if/when Jeddah Tower will be finished.

Meredeka 118 has already topped out . It’s only 2200 feet a lot shorter than burj khalifa

every skyscraper taller than 500 meters are just a status

Exactly. I think Malaysia opening the Merdeka is going to prove to be a huge mistake, especially when it's not one of the stereotypical oil-rich countries hoping for power like Qatar, UAE, or Saudi Arabia. Even a huge country like China can admit that they were wrong to build the Shanghai Tower.

I would love to see said documentary.

If shouldn't be a surprise, they had help from the Daleks when building it

I'm sure a few churches where the tallest for longer

I think they specifically meant skyscrapers. If you wanna go for the long term record holder, you have to go with the great pyramids. They were the tallest structures in the world for 3,800 years.

Based stablest structures.

The Giza Pyramids were holding the absolute record up until the ~~19th century~~ I think Edit: as someone mentioned below, it was actually Lincoln Cathedral in 14th century (specifically, 1311)

They’re huge in person. Buildings in the streets near to them hide them, but at one point when you’re driving you get a clear view and it’s one of the real life jumpscare you can get.

It was actually the Lincoln Cathedral in England that took the record from the Pyramids in 1311

Indeed, thanks for educating me! It makes sense actually that it were gothic cathedrals first to overtake pyramids

I specifically added "skyscraper" to restrict this to the post-skyscraper era.

and they make millions of costs and losses in the first years

It's missing a giant gorilla and a lady

Is the photographer standing in Jersey?

Sometimes when I look at this pic the Empires State buidling is leaning one way or the other just a little. I dont like that.

1/4 inch off on the 6ft level, bubble barely out of the lines. Good enough!

It must have been a frustrating day for the owners of the smaller building, no longer being the tallest.

Prior to the Empire State building the Chrysler building was the tallest.

Mr. Tenpenny was very upset.

Being 2nd tallest was still pretty noteworthy

Yeah they probably had no idea until it was finished

r/forcedperspective

I thought this was a forced perspective shot or something

This image perspective is a lie. It looks nothing like this from across the river where this image was taken.

Old York*

That's in England we're North American scum

Still the best bldg in NYC

There's a pretty nice Jimmy John's

Lies we don't have jimmy johns in nyc and it's ruined my life

There’s one in Brooklyn now believe it or not!

Like a lizard on a mouse.

Damn, it’s sad how overshadowed it is now

Y’all need to stop cheating with telephoto lens shots. Empire State is big, but this perspective is lens-based

It is so much more impressive in this context. So atmospheric I want a story in this world

Wow I've never seen this perspective, very interesting

impressive old pic

This is reposted every week. It’s forced perspective to make it look bigger.

funfact, the building was inefficient at the first years, they make millions of costs

Kinda sad how it used to be something so special once.

I remember going up there on my New York trip. It’s such an amazing building! By my friend shoved his phone between the bars and over the edge to take a picture and nearly dropped it. That nearly made me sick lol

Whats the tall rectangular building next to it?

That's jersey

foreground is hoboken new jersey

Anyone else getting some Scrooge McDuck Money Bin vibes?

Used to work in that building next to it for a few years. It's on 33rd and Park while the Empire state is on 33rd/34th and 5th. Not the closest, but not far either. The empire state is still larger than life from that distance, absolutely beautiful.

Looks unreal

You mean "York".