Lewis Hine, The New York Public Library collections
Workers braved staggering heights to construct the Empire State Building.
But before they stood in all their grandeur, these iconic structures went through complex constructions that included risky and fascinating tactics used by its workers.
We've put together a collection of rare historic photos that display how some of the country's most well-known landmarks came to be, from the meticulous carving of Mount Rushmore to the renovation that helped save the White House from completely collapsing.