May 1, 2008
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Profile America Thursday, May 1st. One of the most famous buildings in the U.S. had its official opening on this date in 1931 the Empire State Building in New York City. In an epic of coordination and efficiency, the building was constructed in just 14 months. Not long after its opening, it became a movie star, with the famous scene in King Kong, when the giant gorilla climbs the building clutching actress Fay Wray while fighting off attacking fighter planes. At 102 stories, the Empire State Building was the tallest in the world for four decades, until surpassed by the first tower of the World Trade Center in 1972. Across the U.S., $90 billion worth of commercial buildings are constructed annually. You can find these and more facts about America from the U.S. Census Bureau online at <www.census.gov>.
Sources: American Speaker Calendar of Events
Statistical Abstract of the United States 2008, t. 931
http://www.census.gov/compendia/statab/2008edition.html