This East view of Manhattan from the Empire State Building shows all the iconic buildings below. With the river behind it, it really gives the impression of the city rising up from the ground. At 1250 ft it is the tallest building in New York that affords it such spectacular views of Manhattan. Empire State Building was constructed in just 410 days using migrate workers from Europe and indigenous Mohawk steel workers. The building has over 70 elevators of which some can whisk you to the higher floors in less than a minute.