The Rockefeller Center is a saliently built commercial complex and art deco, which spreads over the area of twenty-two acres. It is considered to be the heart of Midtown Manhattan and extends the area between 48th and 51st streets of New York City. Declared as a national historic landmark in 1987, the Rockefeller Center was conceived and developed by John D. Rockefeller Jr.
Historical View
John D. Rockefeller Jr., an American philanthropist, hired the space between the fifth and sixth avenue of the Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The space was initially intended to construct an opera house for the Metropolitan Opera. However, due to the sudden decline in the stock market, the philanthropist decided to abort the project of the Metropolitan Opera in 1929. After the delay, he changed his plans and made up his mind to construct a commercial complex, which is now well known as the Rockefeller Center.
This dynamic construction of 19 commercial buildings is built in an art deco fashion which attracts many tourists worldwide. After initiating in 1930, it completed its construction in 1939 through the stupefying work of Raymond Hood, the principal architect and John R. Todd, the principle builder of the project. The project is regarded as the largest project of modern days. It employed more than 40,000 workers for its completion.
In the first year of its construction, Ivy Lee, the public relations innovator, acted as a spectacular consultant for the Rockefeller family. It was Lee who gave the suggestion of naming the project as Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller never wanted the family name to be connected with the project. However, Lee insisted him to keep the name, as it was thought to be a crucial factor for bringing in more number of tenants for the project.
- Also Read: Central Park: New York’s Famed Public Park
Top Places of Tourist Attraction
Let us have a look at some of the important places of tourist attraction in the Rockefeller Center.
Radio City Music Hall
The Radio City Music Hall is an amusement spot which is located in the Rockefeller Center. Declared as a landmark of New York City in 1978, the Music Hall was once a major travel destination that induced numerous tourists. Due to its rising popularity as a tourist attraction, it soon acquired its nickname as ‘Showplace of the Nation’. With a seating capacity of more than 6,000 seats, Music Hall was the world’s largest movie theater while it was newly constructed.
The interiors of the attractively built Radio City Music Hall was considered to be one of the superior illustrations of art deco designing in 1999. The Music Hall was not a host for just luxuriant stage performances and motion pictures. It also provided a platform for touring performers and the special events to take place. It has been proved valuable for offering Tony Awards, Frank Sinatra, The Grammy, and other important events.
GE Building
The GE building makes an ornamental piece of the Rockefeller Center and is best-known as an artistic skyscraper in New York City. Its construction was completed in 1933 under the leadership of Raymond Hood. The Radio Corporation of America was one of the major tenants of the GE building and therefore, it was named as the RCA Building.
The GE Building was found to initiate the concept of assorting the elevators at the central core of the building. The 54th and 56th floor of the building are currently engaged by the Rockefeller Family and Associates. In 1986, General Electric, an American corporation, possessed the RCA Building and later renamed it as the GE Building. The Building is also recognized as an official landmark of the country.
It has an open lobby which is expressively and ornamentally dressed in beige and reduced black scheme with an outstanding installation of glorious lightning. Besides, it has an excellent shopping concourse which can be reached via an escalator from the lobby area. The shaft of the building involves aluminum panels and refined Indiana Limestone, whereas the base is screened by granite up to the height of 4 feet from the ground level.
The Channel Gardens
The Channel Gardens located closely to the Rockefeller Center is an abundant oasis featuring breathtaking natural views and sculptures. Rene Paul Chambellan, an American sculptor, did a remarkable work of designing large fountainhead sculptures for each of the six pools constructed in the Channels Gardens. The six fountainhead sculptures represent six vital characteristics and those are alertness, leadership, imagination, will, energy, and thought.
Thousands of visitors get attracted to the famous sculptures structured in the Channel Gardens. The sculptures include skillfully built male and female models of Triton and Nereid. Triton is a mythical Greek god who is known to be the son of Poseidon and Amphitrite (the sea god and goddess respectively).
The Ice Skating Rink
The Ice Skating Rink is one of the most celebrated venues, which is established right at the center of the huge complex of the Rockefeller Center. It had its noteworthy opening on December 25, 1936. It gives a significant winter experience for its visitors and an awesome venue to spend their winter in an extraordinary fashion.
It is found to be quite busy and crowded during peak periods of time; however, early mornings during vacations and time periods before 4 pm during weekdays see lesser crowds.
Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is an adorning attraction for the tourists. It is distinctively a Norway Spruce tree, which is lit up with gracious lightening and stars from 5:30 am to 11:30 pm during all the days of the year. However, the lights are usually switched off at 9:00 pm during the New Year’s Eve and switched on for twenty-four hours during the Christmas Day. It draws in a huge crowd of visitors and travelers from around the globe with its magnetizing and artful ornaments and lightnings.
The Concourse
The Concourse at the Rockefeller Center is an all encompassing concourse where you get an opportunity to shop, visit, and eat at the same time. It is an immense system of pedestrian passageways built underground, which links up all the buildings at the Rockefeller Center. The Rockefeller Center Concourse features fine dinning, restaurants, shopping centers, stores, etc., including 7 subway channels.
There are more soaring views and eye catchers at the well famed Rockefeller Center of New York City. Get your way guided through the fascinating tourist venues with the help of an expert tour guide. Remember to book your tickets in advance to make the most of this exciting tour to the Rockefeller Center.
