NEW York’s legendary Empire State Building is to be lit up with the colours of the Scottish saltire for the first time, it was announced yesterday.
One of the most famous buildings in the world and for a long time the tallest structure on the planet, the Empire State Building retains all its iconic status so it is a real coup for the organisers of Tartan Week that the building’s tower will be lit up in blue and white lights.
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The big switch on will take place on April 6, and will mark the 20th anniversary of the first Tartan Week which annually celebrates the many links between Scotland and the USA.
The lighting up is significant because it has never previously happened for a country that is not represented in the Olympic Games.
Built in 1931, the Empire State had many Scots among its builders. Named for New York State’s ‘Empire’ nickname, the building stands 102 storeys high and is designated by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the seven modern Wonders of the World.
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Towering over Manhattan, the lights on the towers on top of the building can be seen for many miles around. It is regularly voted New York’s top tourist attraction and has featured in many films such as King Kong and Sleepless in Seattle. Scottish actor David Tennant also starred in a 2007 episode of Dr Who which featured the Empire State Building.
This year’s Tartan Week organising committee announced the Saltire honour yesterday saying: “In celebration of our 20th year, we’re thrilled to announce that, for the first time ever, the Empire State Building’s tower lights will turn blue and white – in honour of the Scottish flag.
“The iconic building will beam the Saltire on Friday April 6, officially welcoming Scots to the city ahead of this year’s New York Tartan Day Parade. We’re honoured to have their support and can’t wait to see the incredible sight.”
The Parade on April 7 is the annual highlight of Tartan Week and up to 3500 people take part, marching behind pipe bands and musicians, with 30,000 spectators viewing the spectacle.
The parade starts at 2pm at 45th Street and marches up Sixth Avenue to 55th Street.
It has already been announced that singer KT Tunstall will be this year’s Grand Marshall of the parade, in succession to the likes of Outlander stars Sam Heughan and Graham McTavish and actors Tommy Flanagan and Kevin McKidd.
Tunstall said: “I’m delighted to participate in this twenty-year tradition and very proud to be the first female solo Grand Marshal.
“It is especially meaningful to step into this role with the movement for gender equality picking up great speed all over the world. I’m always happy to celebrate my roots as a Scottish musician, and I’ve never felt more empowered in my own career than I do now, it’s an exciting time.”
The 20th anniversary also marks the day in 1998 when the US Senate passed a special resolution, Senate Resolution 155, referring to the predominance of Scots among the Founding Fathers and claiming that the USA’s own Declaration of Independence was “modeled on” the Declaration of Arbroath in 1320.
Kyle Dawson, president of the New York Tartan Day Committee, said: “To celebrate our 20th year, we already had a fantastic week planned – with ceilidhs, family fun, live music and our affectionately named Highland Fling singles night taking place, before our world-famous New York Tartan Day Parade closes the show.
“Now this exciting news – that the Empire State Building will welcome visiting Scots by shining the Saltire proudly for the first time ever – really does make this our biggest and best year yet,” he added.
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