What famous New York City skyscraper is lit green on St. Patrick's Day?

The famous New York City skyscraper lit green on St. Patrick’s Day is the Empire State Building.

The building is one of New York’s most recognizable landmarks and has a programmable lighting system that changes its colors for holidays, public celebrations, commemorations and charitable campaigns. Green lighting connects the tower with Irish heritage and the St. Patrick’s Day tradition of wearing green and displaying shamrocks.

The Empire State Building opened in 1931 during the Great Depression and rises from Midtown Manhattan. Its illuminated upper tower has become a nightly part of the city skyline, so special colors are visible from across New York and beyond. Since 2012, LED fixtures have allowed the building to display more than 16 million colors.

Other New York landmarks can also be illuminated for St. Patrick’s Day, which can make the question seem broader. However, the Empire State Building is the standard trivia answer because its tower lighting is especially famous and closely associated with New York’s holiday skyline.