Construction of the Empire State Building, at 350 Fifth Avenue between 33rd and 34th streets, began in 1929 and was completed in 1931. Photographer Lewis Hine chronicled the progress of the historic 102-story, 1,454-foot structure through a series of photographs in a 1998 book, “The Empire State Building.” The black and white pictures provide an up-close perspective of the humble beginnings of the famous
skyscraper — the tallest in New York — and those who worked hard to build it. Included in this gallery (see selection of photos above) are images of ancient safety work seats and project elevators, bird’s eye views of the city, and images of the construction crews in all stages; from mid-air suspensions to wrecking balls and steel beams, the photo gallery takes you back to the time when it all began. TRD