No visit to New York would be complete without a visit to Rockefeller Center. Located in midtown Manhattan on 50th Street, the complex spans 5th and 7th avenues, is easily accessible from anywhere in the city, and contains many more attractions than the average New Yorker knows about.
Rockefeller Center is synonymous with notorious industrialist and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller, who became America’s first billionaire. Built largely after the stock market crash of 1929, the project was the largest private construction project ever undertaken during modern times and was finished in the art deco style of the time.
Rockefeller Center is made up of Radio City Music Hall, the GE Building, and many works of art. Radio City is of course the place to go during Christmas time to see the Rockettes and was originally intended for variety entertainment, but the movies became more popular and Radio City became a movie theater, the largest of his time. Many major award shows have taken place in the huge hall, including the Daytime Emmy Awards and the Grammys. Visitors are recommended to book tickets well in advance of their trip if they intend to see a show there.
The GE (General Electric) building houses the famous Rainbow Room, formerly a nightclub and now an upscale restaurant. For diners who want to check out the Rainbow Room but not pay the luxury prices, the Rainbow Grill is a great alternative and is located on the same floor of the building. The GE Building also boasts one of the best bird’s-eye views of the city from its observation deck nicknamed “Top of the Rock.” The skyscraper also serves as the headquarters for NBC, which produces Saturday Night Live and other popular shows. Visitors to New York often go to watch live tapings of television shows, as they are free, but attendees should be aware of the long waiting list and get their names down well in advance of their visit.
In and around the center there are many famous sculptures and works of art, the most recognized probably being the golden statue of Prometheus in the center by Paul Manship, although the best known piece of art about Rockefeller Center is a highly controversial mural by Diego Rivera. . that was destroyed.
Abby Aldrich Rockefeller convinced her husband John D. Rockefeller in 1932 to commission a mural from Mexican artist Rivera. The painting titled “Man at the Crossroads” was started in 1933 but never completed. Controversy surrounding the mural arose when Rockefeller identified Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin depicted participating in a May Day parade. At the time, the depiction of the communist leader was considered propagandistic and anti-capitalist and the action was considered extremely controversial and scathingly written about in the newspapers.
Rivera offered to paint US President Abraham Lincoln on the mural on the opposite side, but this offer did not appease Rockefeller, who ordered Rivera to remove the mural, which he refused. Rivera was subsequently barred from entering the building, prompting demonstrations by his supporters. Rockefeller workers demolished the mural, despite negotiations to transfer the work to the Museum of Modern Art. Rivera never worked in the United States again, but determined to finish the mural, he recreated the frescoes at the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.
