My mom says that when she visited the ESB in the 1970s, there was no admission fee. I believe her, but can anyone here provide a cite? I’m curious when it started, and what the first fee was.
Last time I was up there was '65, right about Xmas, it was free then.
Jebus. It was like $18 for me last year and I was surrounded by a pack of Junior Woodchucks on speed (or possibly Coca-Cola) along with all eight million residents of NY.
It was not fun.
I was there, so it must have been free.
Last time I was there I was either active duty, or still had my Reserves ID. It was free for me, but the person I was with had to pay, IIRC. This was between 1994-1996.
Native NYCer here. I remember going to ESB with high school classmates sometime between 1974 and 1977. I assure you, it was not free.
I specifically remember this. You see, having a HS booster card (or whatever the heck it was called) supposedly entitled you to a something-percent discount off the ESB observation deck admission price. I had the card, but, for whatever reason, they would not honor the student discount arrangement. On principle, I refused to pay the full fee, and waited downstairs while my friends went to the observation deck.
They were all tourists.
If you want to see the city, walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, that’s free.
I’ve can confirm this, around 1978 there was a fee. I just don’t remember what it was. We did the RCA Building the same week, (now the GE building) and even that had a fee, bit it was cheap back then and is now expensive.
Jim
Went in 1974. Cost money but lines significantly shorter than nowadays.
The Empire State Building costs?!! Jeez I’m old!