The Stories Behind These Iconic Photos

Acrobats balance on top of the Empire State Building, 1934

The Empire State Building is one of the most important structures in the country; it was the first building that grazed the skyline of New York City, and it’s an important cultural attraction. In the summer of 1934, acrobats Jimmy Kerrigan, Jarley Smith and Jewell Waddek decided to perform an act on the ledge on the famous building.

You can find online the full video clip of their balancing act. It’s not uncommon to see artists venture on such adventures for the sake of their art – and they did get an incredible photo out of it – but just looking at this picture makes us feel nauseated.