The Empire State Building is a legend, a national icon. It has been visited by over 117 million people who come to marvel at the 80-mile view, including people like Winston Churchill, Pope Pius XII, Albert Einstein and Queen Elizabeth II. It was built in the midst of the Depression which was in itself testimony to the optimism in the future. From 1931 to 1972, it held the title as the tallest building in the world (1250 feet). After the destruction of the Twin Towers on 9/11, it assumed the title of tallest building in New York City. It houses 1000 offices with its own ZIP Code. It has been declared a National Historic Landmark and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Empire State Building along with the Statue of Liberty requires no captions to be instantly recognized as a symbol for the United States of America.