1st+Empire+State+Building

Built during the Great Depression, it was completed in 1931.

“Empire State Building soars 1,454 feet above 5th Avenue, rises 103 floors and spans two acres of Midtown Manhattan.” (Rosenberg) After the Eiffel Tower was built in in 1889 a race seemed to start across the world to construct the tallest building. It won by 204 feet. towering over the Chrysler Building. "This building not only became an icon of New York City, it became a symbol of twentieth century man's attempts to achieve the impossible." (Rosenberg)

A Brief History

John Jakob Raskob, a former Vice President of General Motors bought the property for approximately $16 million. "It is said that Raskob pulled a thick pencil out of a drawer and held it up to William Lamb and asked, 'Bill, how high can you make it so that it won't fall down?'" (Rosenberg) They decided that the middle would be compact with bathrooms, mail chutes, and corridors while the outer space would be offices. It was planned to be higher than the Chrysler building by 5 stories. Rascob worried that they would hide a rod in the spire and flip it up at the last minute. A solution to the height was adding a 'hat'. "Time was scheduled so that each section of the building process overlapped - timing was essential. Not a minute, an hour, or a day was to be wasted" (Rosenberg) The last rivet placed was solid gold and ceremonious. Built in 1 year and 45 days and only cost $40,948,900 which was below the estimated $50,000,000.

Rosenberg, Jennifer. N.p.. Web. 20 Feb 2014. .



Character Analysis Slim: The 'God' of the ranch. Practical, strong, and exceptionally good at what he does. In Steinbeck's words, "…he moved with a majesty only achieved by royalty and master craftsman." "the prince of the ranch" (Shmoop Editorial Team). He's respected, admired and looked up to. For each climactic part in the story, Slim is there, just as the Empire State Building was built during the Great Depression as a beacon of hope. Lennie: The tallest, most powerful at the farm. The others help him such as George and Slim just as the other buildings aided in the competition for the Empire State to be the tallest.

Shmoop Editorial Team. "Slim in Of Mice and Men." //Shmoop.com//. Shmoop University, Inc., 11 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.