How Observation Decks Became More Valuable Than The Buildings They’re In

[@duck8dodgers]

At One World Trade Center you can also get an hour long tour with a guide who will tell you what your looking at and talk about the building and the rest of the World Trade Center. Full disclosure I am one of those guides.

[@mjbluth]

How much for the tour?

[@michaelsmith4904]

one BILLION dollars

[@MitchellBPYao]

I'd rather see thR building from esb or rockfellar

[@donaldturner2145]

The first modern observation deck was actually on top of the Washington Monument in Washington, DC and that was opened in the 1880's even before the Eiffel Tower. There were many observation decks on top of church spires across Europe and in New York City even before the Washington Monument was built. The Singer Building, which was built in 1908 and demolished in 1968 had an observation deck at the top and when opened in 1908, charged 50 cents for admission. This observation deck was closed by the 1930's due to suicides. The Metlife Tower had an observation deck on the top floor when it opened in 1909 and continued to do so for a number of years afterward. Tickets for this deck were also 50 cents.

[@MichaelfromtheGraves]

Baffling that One Liberty Place in Philadelphia hasn't reopened their observation deck.

[@michaelmangraviti6772]

Yeah it’s a big shame. But SkyHigh’s open now which has incredible views. Just get breakfast for 20 something a person it’s WELL worth the time and money.

[@donaldturner2145]

The Empire State Building saw roughly 1 million visitors the first year the building was open starting on May 1, 1931. This was even before King Kong and tickets were $1 in 1931, so this meant a million dollars in revenue. This is what save the building when office space was virtually empty.

[@opalyankaBG]

When I visited NYC in 2015 I was baffled by how few observation decks there were in the city. Glad to see this is changing.

[@donaldturner2145]

In the late 1930's, Manhattan had seven skyscraper observation decks open to the public. Those were at the Empire State Building, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Chanin Building, 70 Pine Street, the Woolworth Building, the Chrysler Building, and 40 Wall Street. The Williamsburg Savings Bank Toeer in Brooklyn also had an observation deck open to the public at the time

[@stev3nj]

the original Twin Towers had an observation deck so it makes sense that One World Trade has one as well

[@donaldturner2145]

The One World Trade Center deck is a known entity, as it is a reincarnation of the original World Trade Center observation deck and explains why One WTC has one. Top of the Rock at 30 Rockefeller Plaza was reopened in 2005 after being closed since 1986 and that was also a known entity.

[@anna-fleurfarnsworth104]

I'm an elevator technician at the tallest building in the country I'm in, I'm lucky enough to have roof access (mainly only for maintenance people) and I can see the whole city...

[@donaldturner2145]

The Woolworth Building was opened in 1913, not 1912. In 1939, Manhattan had seven skyscrapers with observation decks open to the public. Those buildings were the Empire State Building, the RCA Building at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, the Chrysler Building, Woolworth Building, 40 Wall Street, the Chanin Building, and 70 Pine Street. This was in addition to the Statue of Liberty and Riverside Church. From 1945 until at least 1961, the observation deck on top of the Chanin Building was one of three observation decks still open to the public alongside the Empire State Building and RCA Building. The Chanin Building observation deck closed to the public at some point between 1961 and 1975.

[@ianmacnichol4426]

Willis Tower? never heard of it. But the Ledge is located in the Sears tower. :P

[@MitchellBPYao]

Taipei 101 and Petronas TWIN Towers but don't forget Burj khalifa

[@EvanFrolov-te6wr]

I have an observation deck for my observation deck (so you can see the other observation deck)

[@thevikingbear2343]

Going to the top of the Spire of the Empire State Building, the 102nd floor, you can look down to the One Vanderbilt's observation deck.

[@JohnathenSweeney]

In Cincinnati, we had an observation deck on the almost 600-foot Carew Tower, but it's been closed since covid-19 hit the US. However, they are renovating the 90 something year old skyscraper, that looks really similar to the Empire State Building, into housing and apartments, and they might reopen it up!

[@donaldturner2145]

They are actually planning on reopening the observation deck. But, they will likely add a lot more besides the view.

[@dmr8914]

Was in NYC and others in Sept/Oct 23. Nearly every Obs deck was filled with women taking ridiculous photos of themselves to post on tiktok. They were rude, got in the way, wouldnt move for other people, wore revealing nasty clothes - and simply didnt care. Made each experience way less appealing.

[@AlexBerman]

Gonna observe this video from the observation deck in my apartment building

[@tylerkochman1007]

In the 1880s/1890s Chicago’s Auditorium Building had an observation deck atop its tower

[@JimInIssaquah]

Looks like a 'bucket list' if I ever saw one.

[@donaldturner2145]

The observation deck on top of the Woolworth Building was shut down by the US military in 1941 shortly after the attack on Pearl Harbor for security reasons. This deck never reopened after the war. The Chrysler Building observation deck was shut down in 1945 due to lack of revenue. The observation deck on top of 30 Rockefeller Plaza was first opened in 1933 and closed in 1986 to allow for expansion of the Rainbow Room just below. Plans to reopen the observation deck were made in 2001 a few months before 9/11 and made public in 2003 with the reopening taking place in 2005. Between the attacks on 9/11 and the reopening of Top of the Rock in 2005, the Empire State Building was the only observation deck open to the public in New York City. Therefore, in the past 20 years, New York City went from only one observation deck to five observation decks.

[@luciea5198]

This is great! Love it!

[@caigenproject]

How do they manage crowd controle? How do they make sure people don't stay up there for too long and slow down the rotation? (And the amount of tickes per hour?)

[@Banom7a]

on 1WTC, they do a history walkthrough while on the way to the elevator

[@PaulRiley-ev9it]

you can cut to the chase at 5:00

[@jasonstevens2060]

Can't forget about the statue of liberty🗽

[@bluecollarmenproductions]

The King Kong hand is awesome

[@bluecollarmenproductions]

That sky bridge is scary

[@brookemacin5008]

Love this!

[@DaneReidVoiceOver]

Don't do the Summit at One Vanderbilt. I've been to a lot of observation decks around the world. That one is the worst.

[@pppinto97]

I’ve heard the opposite. That it’s immersive experience makes it the best

[@uhadme]

Bugs Bunny view of it. Airships are why 'observation' decks exist. Docks for the Hindenburg, and such. Common form of travel back then, people had to wait for incoming and outgoing airships, just like a modern airport. Maybe you're not an expert?

[@cubsfan5734]

nyc has the most buildings but you can only go into 4 of them its strange

[@ahwhite2022]

Lotte = ~LOH-teh

[@PeterBryn]

Yes. Painful to hear this.

[@_Breakdown]

5:26 - - ESB observation deck = $60m (2m sq ft offices made little to no $) 6:03 - - king kong premeres 6:40 - - wtc

[@azulgreen1]

Who would’ve thought ❤

[@jonathanjochem7289]

Who is the presenter?

[@thevikingbear2343]

Going to the top of the Spire at the Empire State Building is incredible. Its the 102nd floor, and you look down on One Vanderbilt.

[@MitchellBPYao]

But 1wtc does the same

[@anna-fleurfarnsworth104]

I'm an elevator technician at the tallest building in the country I'm in, I'm lucky enough to have roof access (mainly only for maintenance people) and I can see the whole city...