Sometimes I wonder how puny, weakling humans even dare to think about flying through the sky (let alone going to the moon), traveling underwater for days at a time (let alone down to high-pressure depths), or building huge structures. Sometimes I look at even ordinary accomplishments like the average skyscraper, and I think, Wow! I'm impressed.
On
this date in 1884, construction began in Chicago, Illinois, on the
first skyscraper in the world: the 10-story Home Insurance
Building. The architect, Major Jenney, created a steel structural
frame that evolved into the “Chicago skeleton” form of
construction in future skyscrapers. As a matter of fact, Chicago has
been called the home of the skyscraper!
Check out this amazing video of lightning striking Chicago skyscrapers.
On
this date in 1931, the Empire State Building was dedicated and
opened to the public. It was a whopping 102 stories high!
Strange-but-true: although the Empire State Building is in New York
City, it was officially opened by then-President Herbert Hoover while
the president was sitting in the White House, in Washington, D.C.!
The president pressed a button, and far away, the
lights of the Empire State Building turned on, thereby declaring the building open!
(From
the sources I consulted, it seems apparent that President Hoover's
button was purely symbolic, and somebody right there in NYC flicked the
light switch at the same moment.)
For
more info and activities about skyscrapers, check out this and
also this other earlier post.
Also
on this date:
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