Each country has its own architectural monuments and sights. In Europe, these are objects that have come down to our days from antiquity or the Middle Ages, for example, the Colosseum in Rome or Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris.
USA is a young country, but it also has its sights that have gone down in the history of architecture. Rockefeller Center is listed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks and is today the world's most recognizable entertainment and business complex.
History of construction of the center
Rockefeller Center, built at the height of the Great Depression, was, in the opinion of most Americans, a big and expensive gamble. It cost John Davidson Rockefeller Jr. $125 million, which at the time was a fabulous amount.
Situated on almost 9 hectares of land, it consists of 19 buildings united by a common infrastructure and is a real city within a city. The construction was carried out at a difficult time for the country and the construction of buildings of this magnitude was perceived by many as charity, since more than 40,000 people from 1931 to 1940 were provided with jobs and could feed their families.family.
Rockefeller Center (photo shows the scale of construction) turned Rockefeller into the largest real estate owner in New York and brought millions of dollars in profits. Today, the largest companies in the country rent offices here, and elite stores occupy the first floors. Everything in this center is designed so that people who work here can also relax, have a good time and shop.
Observation deck
Occupying a significant area, Rockefeller Center (Manhattan) is bordered by such famous streets as 5th Avenue with its expensive shops, 6th Avenue - the main thoroughfare of the island, 47th and 51st streets.
The tallest building in the center has 70 floors and is the second most popular observation deck (the Empire State Building is in the lead because it is taller). Numerous crowds of tourists rise here every day to photograph the sunset or New York.
According to New Yorkers themselves, the Rockefeller Center site is the best place to see the city, as it offers views of both Central Park and the best skyscrapers. The view from this building covers 120 blocks, which can be seen from various levels of the observation deck.
The first and second levels are located on floors 67 - 68 and have glazing. This somewhat spoils the photos, as the reflections on the glass are clearly visible. At the top level, the site is open and represents the top floor of a skyscraper, surrounded by a perimetermolding.
Ticket can be ordered online for a certain time, so as not to stand in long lines. Especially many tourists come in the evening to capture how the sun sets behind the Hudson.
Famous places in Rockefeller Center
Rockefeller Center in New York is known throughout the world thanks to numerous films with his "participation". On its territory there is one of the most popular stages in America - Radio City Music Hall with 6000 seats, where the loudest productions and concerts take place.
Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Elton John and many other celebrities have performed in this theater. Performing on this stage is considered a big step in the career of musicians and theater groups.
Rockefeller Center has been holding exhibitions since its opening. Even during the Second World War, it hosted various social events.
Under the center is an underground "city" of cafes, restaurants and shops. You can get there by elevators, the cabins of which are located in the pavilion on the street. More than 60,000 people work in the center, there is a post office, a theater and a cinema, schools, doctors' and lawyers' offices, its own park and even a waterfall. This center can be safely called a city, since it contains all the services and service centers necessary for the settlement.
The most popular television programs and news are broadcast from the Rockefeller Center. From its earliest days, it has become a popular New York attraction.
Rockefeller Centerwinter
Life in the center calms down only late at night. All year round, residents and guests of the city come here to relax, but most of all in winter, when a skating rink is flooded at the site of the summer cafe. Flags of 159 UN member countries hang around this site.
The skating rink is a very popular place in winter, so it is very crowded both on the ice and in the spectator seats. An important role in such popularity is played by the country's main Christmas tree located here.
Christmas tree
Since 1936, in the center of the Rockefeller complex, they began to put up and decorate a Christmas tree every year. She became so popular thanks to newspaper photos that people from other states came to see her.
So the tree in this center became the main tree of the country. About where they bought or cut down a tree for the next Christmas, they write in newspapers and shoot reports today. Americans' keen interest in this tradition attracts thousands of tourists every year to celebrate Christmas at Rockefeller Center.
Rockefeller Center Today
Today, the complex is the concentration of offices of the most famous American and foreign companies.
Here is a rich "underground" life with its cafes, restaurants and even a metro station. The working atmosphere reigns here during the day, and nightly entertainment is represented by numerous theater and film venues.
On the plaque you can read thatwritten on Rockefeller Center. This is an architectural project in terms of large-scale urban development that provided jobs for thousands of people during the Great Depression and was designed by John D. Rockefeller Jr.