#Empire State Bldg.

[newyorkthegoldenage]

Seeing in The New York Times the photograph of Helen Keller in the Observation Tower of the Empire State Building, I [Dr. John H. Finley] wrote her asking her what she really “saw” from that height. This remarkable letter written by her came in answer and was published in The New York Times Magazine. It will be agreed by all who read it that, as she said, she “beheld a brighter prospect than my friends with two good eyes.”

January 13, 1932 Dear Dr. Finley:

After many days and many tribulations which are inseparable from existence here below, I sit down to the pleasure of writing to you and answering your delightful question, “What Did You Think ‘of the Sight’ When You Were on the Top of the Empire Building?”

Frankly, I was so entranced “seeing” that I did not think about the sight. If there was a subconscious thought of it, it was in the nature of gratitude to God for having given the blind seeing minds. As I now recall the view I had from the Empire Tower, I am convinced that, until we have looked into darkness, we cannot know what a divine thing vision is.

Perhaps I beheld a brighter prospect than my companions with two good eyes. Anyway, a blind friend gave me the best description I had of the Empire Building until I saw it myself.

Do I hear you reply, “I suppose to you it is a reasonable thesis that the universe is all a dream, and that the blind only are awake?” Y—es—no doubt I shall be left at the Last Day on the other bank defending the incredible prodigies of the unseen world, and, more incredible still, the strange grass and skies the blind behold are greener grass and bluer skies than ordinary eyes see. I will concede that my guides saw a thousand things that escaped me from the top of the Empire Building, but I am not envious. For imagination creates distances and horizons that reach to the end of the world. It is as easy for the mind to think in stars as in cobble-stones. Sightless Milton dreamed visions no one else could see. Radiant with an inward light, he sent forth rays by which mankind beholds the realms of Paradise.

But what of the Empire Building? It was a thrilling experience to be whizzed in a “lift” a quarter of a mile heavenward, and to see New York spread out like a marvellous tapestry beneath us. There was the Hudson—more like the flash of a sword-blade than a noble river. The little island of Manhattan, set like a jewel in its nest of rainbow waters, stared up into my face, and the solar system circled about my head! Why, I thought, the sun and the stars are suburbs of New York, and I never knew it! I had a sort of wild desire to invest in a bit of real estate on one of the planets. All sense of depression and hard times vanished, I felt like being frivolous with the stars. But that was only for a moment. I am too static to feel quite natural in a Star View cottage on the Milky Way, which must be something of a merry-go-round even on quiet days.

I was pleasantly surprised to find the Empire Building so poetical. From everyone except my blind friend I had received an impression of sordid materialism—the piling up of one steel honeycomb upon another with no real purpose but to satisfy the American craving for the superlative in everything. A Frenchman has said, in his exalted moments the American fancies himself a demigod, nay, a god; for only gods never tire of the prodigious. The highest, the largest, the most costly is the breath of his vanity.

Well, I see in the Empire Building something else—passionate skill, arduous and fearless idealism. The tallest building is a victory of imagination. Instead of crouching close to earth like a beast, the spirit of man soars to higher regions, and from this new point of vantage he looks upon the impossible with fortified courage and dreams yet more magnificent enterprises.

What did I “see and hear” from the Empire Tower? As I stood there ’twixt earth and sky, I saw a romantic structure wrought by human brains and hands that is to the burning eye of the sun a rival luminary. I saw it stand erect and serene in the midst of storm and the tumult of elemental commotion. I heard the hammer of Thor ring when the shaft began to rise upward. I saw the unconquerable steel, the flash of testing flames, the sword-like rivets. I heard the steam drills in pandemonium. I saw countless skilled workers welding together that mighty symmetry. I looked upon the marvel of frail, yet indomitable hands that lifted the tower to its dominating height.

Let cynics and supersensitive souls say what they will about American materialism and machine civilization. Beneath the surface are poetry, mysticism and inspiration that the Empire Building somehow symbolizes. In that giant shaft I see a groping toward beauty and spiritual vision. I am one of those who see and yet believe.

I hope I have not wearied you with my “screed” about sight and seeing. The length of this letter is a sign of long, long thoughts that bring me happiness.

I am, with every good wish for the New Year,

Sincerely yours, Helen Keller

Top photo: Times Wide World Photos/Letters of Note Bottom photo: Associated Press

#vintage New York #1930s #Helen Keller #Empire State Building #Empire State Bldg. #Jan. 13 #13 Jan. #blind #deaf #imagination #seeing blind #how blind see #idealism #materialism #American materialism

[reggie-gayflx]

When I saw this I thought of all the amazing teachers I had each year growing up and all the field trips we went on to NYC, MOMA, Guggenheim, National History, Broadway, The Frick, Cloisters, Liberty Island, The Empire State Bldg, The U.N., West Point, Washington DC, and so many more, and how we were taught to be respectful, responsible, observant, open minded, fun loving, intellectually absorbent and imaginative! And all of the above while first being in a joyous and exciting rush to get in line so we could consume all that was waiting for us just beyond those yellow school buses we had just stepped from. Thanks to all my wonderful teachers both those who told me unless I stopped being a wise guy i wouldn't amount to anything and those who told me the world was my oyster ❤️

#teachers #youth #education #liberalism #liberal

[gotzzy]

Tom has mentioned some strategies to look taller in pics and one of them is to stand more to the front and that's what that pic shows. He was extremely self-conscious about their height difference during FFH press and even Z posted about it (for a story about their London photocall she mentioned that he was not happy about her shoe choice). Then in the Empire State Bldg he didn't stand right next to her but stood on the other side of the sightseeing telescope. He didn't have an issue when they were sitting together

I'm glad he doesn't care about that stupid height assumption anymore

#ask

[skippyv20]

Empire state bldg will be purple tonight for the Queen and Eiffel tower will be red white and blue. Colors of the union flag.

Thank you🙏🏻❤️

[bastardizedbitching]

#polls #it’s late and i’m tired #please humor me

[bcacstuff]

Sam always say what people want to hear. During his NYC morning shows he said that before OL he went to NY on his last dime and went up Eiffel Tower only to have the host correct him with Empire State bldg. On Kelly Clarkston show he said that he went to Texas because Kelly was born and raised in Texas. He has no live stories other than embellishing them to make himself sound better. Because he's not truthful and has zero personality he comes across as disingenuous and boring.

This must be one of his life mottos

[cheryldunn]

#empire state bldg. #nyc

[stevengruber-photoblog]

West side ride #hudsonyards We used to call the first one ‘The bad building’ because it blocked our view of the Empire State Bldg so we moved. Soon more came. Now it’s like a silver city on the Hudson #westside #manhattan #newyork #newyorkcity #nyc #nycgo #skyscraper #frommycarwindow #what_i_saw_in_nyc #nycprimeshot #nycworld #silvercityny #fx_hdr #ic_cities (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cknvcm9AFIf/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

#hudsonyards #westside #manhattan #newyork #newyorkcity #nyc #nycgo #skyscraper #frommycarwindow #what_i_saw_in_nyc #nycprimeshot #nycworld #silvercityny #fx_hdr #ic_cities

[melodymanny]

At the Empire State Bldg Starbucks

I told the barista, named Chicago, I wanted my ice tea shaken like Shakira's butt..... and oh did he shake it!

#icedtea #starbucks #summerrelief #lifeoftym #gaymoviestar #lgbtactivist

@tymmoss

[slubatt]

Check out this listing I just added to my Poshmark closet: Vintage Actual Photographs Post Cards of Empire State Bldg Statue of Liberty NY.

[gina-han]

Heading out to the Empire State Bldg masked and ready!

[newyorkthegoldenage]

How else would you fix the antenna? A bridgeman with U.S. Steel climbs atop the Empire State Building, October 26, 1950. He was one of 22 structural iron workers who erected a permanent five-station television tower on top of the skyscraper.

Photo: Associated Press via the NY Daily News

#vintage New York #1950s #Empire State Bldg. #TV antenna #vintage antenna #heights #aerial view #danger #Oct. 26 #26 Oct.

[calvin-af-crone]

Emil Nava Instagram 18 October 2018

#Emil Nava #Cristina Squyres #NYC #top of Empire State Bldg

[elledeegee]

Marc Tetro charms and keychains

#marc tetro #charms #keychains #nyc #taxi cab #empire state bldg #luggage tag #yellow #cities

[luanne1979]

October Squares | Perspective

October Squares | Perspective

Talk about perspective…Does this view from the observation deck of the Empire State Building (New York City) remind anyone else of a motherboard from a computer? 

View On WordPress

#PastSquares #Aerial View #Empire State Bldg. Observation Deck view #New York City #Perspective #Photo Challenge

[multibug]

as much as i loved the new york special, as a native new yorker, here are some things that i personally think should’ve been added: 

chat n ladybug on the brooklyn bridge looking over at the city

a class trip to time square at night OR to the top of the empire state building

ooh OR chat n ladybug on top of the empire state bldg

a walk through central park!!! OR relaxing on the grass in the middle of the park!!! 

eating street food (pizza/hot dogs/etc)

no offense but WHERE ARE THE RATS? we got pigeons in paris?? WHERE ARE MY NY RATS???

a crowded indoor restaurant that forces adrienette to sit squished next to one another

dj wifi and adrienette sneaking away and riding the subway together, again squished together bc subways r packed

ADRIENETTE RIDING IN A HORSE DRAWN CARRIAGE

#there's so much more but my brain is KDGHKOPDAKOFRD #also trying to think of things that aren't necessarily Too old for them #BUT I WANT IT #ml #miraculous ladybug #adrien agreste #marinette dupain cheng #alya cesaire #nino lahiffe #chat noir #ladybug #adrienette #ladynoir #do i bother tagging spoilers or nah bc all i mentioned were the rats????? #god lmfao let me know i guess #some things im keeping a secret purposely :eyes:.