On May 1, 1931, New York’s Empire State Building was dedicated. The building was the idea of John J. Raskob of General Motors who wanted to build a taller building than Walter Chrysler had underway. Remarkably, Raskob’s building was completed under budget (at $40 million) and ahead of schedule. In 1931, the building was the world’s tallest skyscraper. The stature of the building and the fact that it employed people during the Depression brought pride to New Yorkers.
