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The tour begins at St. Patrick's Cathedral at 5th Ave between 50th & 51st Streets. This tour is best experienced on a mobile phone.
John D. Rockefeller, Jr., was the son of America’s first billionaire, the founder of Standard Oil. But rather than live solely off his father’s fortune, he devoted his life to philanthropy. He participated in the creation of various foundations and funds, and, of course, sponsored the construction of Rockefeller Center. He also purchased and donated thousands of acres of land to national parks, contributed to conservation efforts, and financed the construction of museums in Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, and Yellowstone National Parks.
Rockefeller Plaza was originally conceived as a sunken plaza for luxury shops and restaurants. However, the concept proved to be a flop, as shoppers didn’t like having to descend down and return back up. The shops and restaurants were scrapped after bringing in an expert in artificially refrigerated skating rinks. And so the iconic ice rink was born. These days the rink is a year-round attraction, which doubles as a roller-skating destination in the summer. Beneath Rockefeller Plaza is an underground mall, storage rooms, and the complex's shipping and loading center. It boasts an impressive 14.5-inch layer of waterproofing.
The centerpiece of the Rockefeller Center is 30 Rockefeller Plaza, a 67-story office building that soars above the plaza (you should see the building directly in front of you). It features the Wisdom sculpture, also by Lee Lawrie, above its main entrance. The Top of the Rock observation deck offers panoramic city views.
At one point, there were plans for a mid-block boulevard that would link Rockefeller Center with the Museum of Modern Art, which, Daniel Okrent, the first public editor of The New York Times, said, “may explain why MoMA is the only major museum that isn’t on a corner or facing a plaza.”
And why did this mid-block boulevard never materialize? Okrent explains, “The Rockefellers tried for years to make it happen. But the since-closed 21 Club was in the way, and its owners wouldn’t budge. No matter how powerful the Rockefellers were, in the end, even they were no match for the speakeasy business.”
Our tour ends in the heart of Midtown. From here, you can walk in any direction to find great food, shopping, and more architecture to explore!
This tour is brought to you by The Humane Space. Tag images of your tour on social media with #myhumanespace and we’ll share your journey!
Enjoy the rest of your day in incredible New York City!
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