Who Really Built the Empire State Building?

"The Empire State Building embodies an American ideal, representing the dream of rising, yet the stories of the immigrant workers who built it have been erased from history."

"New research allows us to reconstruct the lives of the immigrant, working-class, and Indigenous men who built the nation's most iconic skyscraper, correcting the historical record."

"The contributions of immigrants to the construction of the Empire State Building reflect a painful aspect of the American experience, where hard work often goes unrecognized."

"By recognizing the role of all workers in constructing the Empire State Building, we celebrate it as a national symbol that includes all Americans, regardless of ethnicity or origin."

The Empire State Building, opened in 1931, symbolizes the American dream of rising, yet the identities of its builders remain largely unrecognized. Despite the significant contributions of immigrant, working-class, and Indigenous men, no comprehensive record of the laborers exists. Recent research utilizing various historical records has begun to reconstruct their stories, highlighting the importance of acknowledging all contributors to this iconic structure. This recognition aims to correct historical narratives and celebrate the building as a symbol inclusive of all Americans, regardless of background.

Read at time.com