Editing Empire State Building (section)

====<span class="anchor" id="Dirigible (airship) terminal"></span>Above the 102nd floor====
The final stage of the building was the installation of a hollow mast, a {{convert|158|ft|m|adj=on}} steel shaft fitted with elevators and utilities, above the 86th floor.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=186}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}} The spire of the Empire State Building was originally intended to serve as a [[mooring mast]] for zeppelins and other airships, although the plan was abandoned after high winds made that impossible.<ref name="am New York 2016" /> At the top would be a conical roof and the 102nd-floor docking station.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=186}}{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}} Inside, the elevators would ascend {{convert|167|ft|m}} from the 86th-floor ticket offices to a {{convert|33|ft|m|adj=mid|-wide}} 101st-floor{{efn|name=101st-floor}} waiting room.<ref name="Hearst Magazines 1931">{{cite book |author=Hearst Magazines |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_n-MDAAAAMBAJ |title=Popular Mechanics |date=May 1931 |publisher=Hearst Magazines |page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_n-MDAAAAMBAJ/page/n173 812] }}</ref>{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=82}} From there, stairs would lead to the 102nd floor,{{efn|name=101st-floor}} where passengers would enter the airships.{{sfn|Tauranac|2014|p=186}} The airships would have been moored to the spire at the equivalent of the building's 106th floor.{{sfn|Langmead|2009|p=82}}{{sfn|Jackson|2010|pp=1344}}

As constructed, the mast contains four rectangular tiers topped by a cylindrical shaft with a conical pinnacle.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}} On the 102nd (formerly 101st) floor, there is a door with stairs ascending to a 103rd (formerly 102nd) floor. This top level, originally planned to be the airship docking station, now contains electrical equipment and features an exterior balcony.{{efn|name=101st-floor}}<ref name="Rothstein 2011">{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/arts/design/empire-state-buildings-new-exhibition-review.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220101/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/16/arts/design/empire-state-buildings-new-exhibition-review.html |archive-date=January 1, 2022 |url-access=limited |title=A View Inside King Kong's Perch |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |first=Edward |last=Rothstein |date=July 15, 2011 |access-date=May 27, 2013}}{{cbignore }}</ref>  The floor is inaccessible to the public but celebrities and dignitaries may be given permission to take pictures there.<ref name="CBS New York 2011" /><ref>{{cite web |last=Carlson |first=Jen |title=Here's The View From The Private 103rd Balcony of the Empire State Building |website=Gothamist |date=February 2, 2016 |url=http://gothamist.com/2016/02/02/esb_103rd_floor_vertigo.php |access-date=October 22, 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171105170332/http://gothamist.com/2016/02/02/esb_103rd_floor_vertigo.php |archive-date=November 5, 2017 }}</ref> A set of stairs and a ladder ascend to the spire and are used by maintenance workers.<ref name="CBS New York 2011">{{cite web |title=Inaccessible New York: Up To The 103rd Floor Of The Empire State Building |website=CBS New York |date=June 6, 2011 |url=http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/inaccessible-new-york-up-to-the-103rd-floor-of-the-empire-state-building/ |access-date=October 22, 2017 |archive-date=October 23, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171023063137/http://newyork.cbslocal.com/guide/inaccessible-new-york-up-to-the-103rd-floor-of-the-empire-state-building/ |url-status=live }}</ref> The mast's 480 windows were all replaced in 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last=Morris |first=Keiko |title=Raising the Glass at the Empire State Building |website=The Wall Street Journal |date=August 31, 2015 |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/raising-the-glass-at-the-empire-state-building-1440979749 |access-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-date=October 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025074240/https://www.wsj.com/articles/raising-the-glass-at-the-empire-state-building-1440979749 |url-status=live }}</ref> The mast serves as the base of the building's broadcasting antenna.{{sfn|Landmarks Preservation Commission|1981|p=17}}

Inflatable objects have sometimes been mounted to the spire for promotional purposes. For example, a [[King Kong]] balloon was attached to the spire in 1983 to mark the 50th anniversary of the character's introduction,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Geist |first=William E. |date=April 8, 1983 |title=King Kong, At 50, Lacks Get Up and Go |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/08/nyregion/king-kong-at-50-lacks-get-up-and-go.html |access-date=June 30, 2024 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=September 15, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230915050302/https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/08/nyregion/king-kong-at-50-lacks-get-up-and-go.html |url-status=live }}</ref> and an inflatable dragon was placed on the spire in 2024 to promote the TV series ''[[House of Dragon]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Klein |first=Kristine |title=To Promote House of Dragon, The Empire State Building Displays a 270-Foot Inflatable Dragon |website=The Architect's Newspaper |date=June 18, 2024 |url=https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/house-of-dragon-empire-state-building-displays/ |access-date=June 30, 2024 |archive-date=June 30, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240630010631/https://www.archpaper.com/2024/06/house-of-dragon-empire-state-building-displays/ |url-status=live }}</ref>