<P> The Empire State Building stood as the world 's tallest building for nearly 40 years , from its completion in early 1931 until the topping out of the original World Trade Center 's North Tower in late 1970 . Following the September 11 attacks in 2001 , the Empire State Building was again the tallest building in New York , until One World Trade Center reached a greater height in April 2012 . The Empire State Building is currently the fifth - tallest completed skyscraper in the United States and the 35th - tallest in the world . It is also the fifth - tallest freestanding structure in the Americas . When measured by pinnacle height , it is the fourth - tallest building in the United States . </P>
<P> The Empire State Building stood as the world 's tallest building for nearly 40 years , from its completion in early 1931 until the topping out of the original World Trade Center 's North Tower in late 1970 . Following the September 11 attacks in 2001 , the Empire State Building was again the tallest building in New York , until One World Trade Center reached a greater height in April 2012 . The Empire State Building is currently the fifth - tallest completed skyscraper in the United States and the 35th - tallest in the world . It is also the fifth - tallest freestanding structure in the Americas . When measured by pinnacle height , it is the fourth - tallest building in the United States . </P>
how long was the empire state building the tallest building
how long was the empire state building the tallest building
nearly 40 years
nearly 40 years