- The Empire State Building is known for its panoramic views of New York City, but visitors don't always have the right vantage point to appreciate the architecture.
- A new observatory on the building's second floor celebrates the construction of the skyscraper, which was completed in 1931.
- At the observatory's entrance, a 20-feet model helps visitors see the handiwork that has kept the building sturdy for decades.
- To move the model into the building, engineers had to carve a hole in the second level.
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On a cloudless day, visitors at the Empire State Building can see up to 80 miles of skyline from their vantage point in Midtown Manhattan. It's one of the biggest draws of the iconic skyscraper.
Now a team of designers, developers, engineers, and architects are encouraging visitors to look inward with a new observatory that opened on July 29.
Read more: 14 weird facts that you probably didn't know about the Empire State Building
At the observatory's entrance stands a 20-foot model of the building that straddles two floors. To get the model to fit inside, engineers had to carve a hole in the second level.
While peeling back the layers of the structure, they unearthed some treasures from its past.