Empire State Building Guides
These are the pages for the questions a ticket page can't fully answer. One covers the practical decision of guide versus self-guided; the other two cover the building's stranger corners — the people who have climbed it without a ticket, and the facts, ownership and pop-culture history visitors ask about most.
Deciding how to visit
Start here if you haven't picked a ticket yet. This guide lays out what a live guide adds over the self-guided galleries, and who each option actually suits.
History, news and the questions people ask
The building's climbing history, from a 1930s stunt to a 2026 spire incident, and the facts, ownership and current status people search for after they've already booked.
Can You Climb the Empire State Building? Stunts and Stair Race
From a 2026 spire climb to the annual charity stair race: has anyone climbed the Empire State Building, and what's the legal way to reach the top?
Empire State Building Facts & What It Looks Like Today
Height, records, who owns the Empire State Building today, and the Trump ownership question people keep asking — the facts in one place.