Reminiscent of a swinging 1930s New York, the Rockefeller Center is an icon of outstanding architectural achievement, combining past and present in seamless elegance. It is situated in Midtown Manhattan and today is the centrepiece of the city’s annual holiday celebrations.
Built throughout the economic downturn of the 1930s, the Rockefeller Center was considered a revolutionary icon of innovation, perseverance and outstanding human achievement when it was finally completed in 1939. Spanning a staggering 8.9 hectares, this sleek superstructure with its modern design and detailed exterior has been home to some of the United States’ most recognised companies. Nowadays, it is still an important lifeline in the city’s commercial activity with 19 commercial and historic buildings spread over several blocks.
Setting the bar for Art Deco architecture, the Rockefeller Center offers a variety of attractions open to the public all year round. Visitors can take a tour of the famous NBC studios and discover what it takes to make shows such as “NBC Nightly News” and “Saturday Night Live”. Throughout the holiday months, visitors are in for a real treat. The colossal 30-metre Christmas tree towers above a vast ice rink. Open daily from October to April, visitors can glide across this vast ocean of glistening ice. For a more upbeat tempo, get tickets to see the Rockettes or a concert at Radio hall.
A trip to the Rockefeller Center is not complete without visiting the Top of the Rock observation platform for a 360 degree view of the entire city. Offering a 70-storey high view of the Manhattan skyline from the Statute of Liberty to the south and Central Park to the north, this observation deck offers a picture perfect moment for families, romantics and travellers alike. Before zooming up to the observation post, be sure to check out the Center’s permanent exhibition on the mezzanine level with a variety of photographs artefacts and in depth information on the building’s construction. Visitors should be reminded that once they reach the top observation deck, they cannot return to the exhibit.
Located at 30 Rockefeller plaza on fifth avenue, the Center is easily accessible via number of bus routes and subway lines.
