10 Interesting Facts About Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center is a large complex consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres (89,000 m2) between 48th Street and 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan. A huge complex of buildings was built by one of the most powerful families in American history. Here you’ll discover the list of 10 interesting facts about Rockefeller Center.
Table of contents
- Rockefeller Center was named after John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
- Largest private building project ever undertaken in modern times
- The land was originally bought for less than $5,000
- Rockefeller Center used to have another name
- Rockefeller Center was continuously expanded
- There are more than 100 murals in Rockefeller Center
- Home of some of the finest landmarks in New York City
- Here you can enjoy one the most famous Ice Skating Rinks in the world
- The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
- National Historic Landmark since 1987
Rockefeller Center was named after John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
Although John D. Rockefeller Jr. spent most of his life engaged in philanthropy, his single, defining business venture was the creation of the “city within a city”.
Largest private building project ever undertaken in modern times
For the project, 228 buildings on the site were razed and some 4,000 tenants relocated. The construction of the project employed between 40,000 and 60,000 people. The complex was the largest private building project ever undertaken in contemporary times. By fall 1939, the complex had 26,000 tenants and 125,000 daily visitors. That year, 1.3 million people went on a guided tour of Rockefeller Center or visited the RCA Building’s observation deck, while 6 million people visited the underground shopping mall, and 7 million saw a performance at Rockefeller Center.
The land was originally bought for less than $5,000
The first private owner of the site was physician David Hosack, who purchased twenty acres of rural land from New York City in 1801 for $5,000 and opened the country’s first botanical garden, the Elgin Botanic Garden, on the site. The gardens operated until 1811, and by 1823, ended up in the ownership of Columbia University.
Rockefeller Center used to have another name
During the planning phase, the complex had been given several names. These included “Radio City,” “Rockefeller City,” and “Metropolitan Square.”
The most important thing for John D. Rockefeller Jr., however, was to turn the project into profits as quickly as possible. Even though he didn’t like the idea of giving his name to the project, he agreed the moment it became clear that it would tremendously benefit the promotion of the rental spaces that would become available. The name “Rockefeller Center” became official in December 1931.
Rockefeller Center was continuously expanded
New buildings were continuously constructed up until the 1970s. The final buildings were 3 towers called the Exxon Building, the McGraw-Hill Building, and the Celanese Building.
Apart from these final additions, all the buildings in the buildings have undergone serious renovations.
There are more than 100 murals in Rockefeller Center
The leading developers suggested a program for placing distinctive artworks within each of the buildings. Hartley Burr Alexander, a noted mythology and symbology professor, was hired to integrate this complex program into the buildings.
The program included a variety of sculptures, statues, murals, friezes, decorative fountains, and mosaics. Additionally, the program also included rooftop gardens which would resemble the ancient hanging gardens of Babylon.
Home of some of the finest landmarks in New York City
The landmarked buildings comprise 12 acres (49,000 m2) in Midtown, bounded by Fifth and Sixth avenues between 48th and 51st streets.
The east side of Sixth Avenue, officially known as Avenue of the Americas, contains most of the buildings that were built specifically for the proposed radio complex. These buildings, which comprise “Radio City”, are 1230 Avenue of the Americas, 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Radio City Music Hall, and 1270 Avenue of the Americas. The idea for an integrated media complex somewhere came in 1920, when Owen D. Young, the chairman of RCA parent General Electric, suggested that RCA combine its then-disparate offices into one location.
The International Complex is located entirely along Fifth Avenue, with the tall International Building overshadowing four smaller country-themed buildings with retail outlets. Three of the buildings — the tall tower and the two southern retail buildings — were planned after the cancellation of the incongruously designed oval retail building in 1931, while the two retail buildings to the north were added later.
The low rectangular structures that replaced the oval building were seen as a more suitable design for the avenue. The current international theme was decided on due to a lack of American tenants willing to rent there; eventually, the buildings were occupied by British, French, and Italian interests, although the Italian interests ultimately were the only foreign tenants who rented for the long term.
Here you can enjoy one the most famous Ice Skating Rinks in the world
The Ice Rink at Rockefeller Center was installed in 1936 after retail outlets of the original plan failed to get traction. It was initially seen as something temporary but became an instant tourist attraction so it was decided to keep it in the plaza permanently.
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is placed above the statue of Prometheus from November to January every year; it is usually put in place and lit the week after Thanksgiving, and taken down the week after New Year’s Day. The first tree was erected in 1934, and as successive trees received more lavish decorations, the tradition gradually became known worldwide.
National Historic Landmark since 1987
In 1976 the American Institute of Architects declared Rockefeller Center the second most significant piece of architecture in America (Thomas Jefferson’s University of Virginia is first). It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987.