The back of the postcard gives the history of the Empire State Building site:, "In 1799 a man named Thompson owned a farm at what is now Fifth Avenue and Thirty-fourth Street, New York City. He later sold it and in 1827 the Astor Mansions were erected there by William Astor. These made way in 1893 for the famous Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, a social and political center for many years. In 1929 the hotel was demolished and on the site was erected the tallest building in the world, Empire State, rising 102 stories above the street." There is also a personal note, "Elizabeth and I visited the Empire State observatory July 1, 1932."
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Note
Digital version published by City University of New York. Graduate School and University Center, Mina Rees Library.