Empire State Building extends sightseeing past midnight

New York City's tallest building, Empire State Building, set in motion a pilot program to extend the opening of its observatories until 2 a.m. (local time) beginning Thursday.

The observatory decks to Manhattan's tallest building normally close at midnight, with the last elevators going up at 11:15 p.m. But on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, it closes at 2 a.m. with the last elevators going up at 1:15 a.m.

Visitors hoping to catch a late-night glance of the city skyline can catch an elevator to the 86th floor.

At 1,050 feet (320 meters), the observatory offers panoramic views both from within a glass-enclosed pavilion, and from the surrounding open-air promenade.

Visitors looking to get even higher can climb another 16 floors to see the city from 1,224 feet (373 meters) above ground.

Everyone must go through the security check when entering the building. No glass or bottles are permitted to be taken to the Observatory. Cameras and camcorders are allowed but no tripods.

The famed skyscraper, built in 1930, draws about 4 million visitors each year. Adult tickets are 20 dollars, with an additional 15-dollar charge to climb to the 102nd-floor observatory.

The building was officially opened to the public on May 1, 1931.In 1986, it was recognized as a National Historic Landmark by the U.S. Department of the Interior.

2007-03-02