Located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, Rockefeller Center is a complex of nineteen commercial buildings spanning 22 acres and located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. Best known for its ‘Christmas Tree,’ ‘Top of the Rock’ observation deck, and ‘Radio City Music Hall,’ it’s a great New York destination for all visitors any time of year.

Originally known as Radio City, this complex was born during the Great Depression. The location, originally earmarked for the construction of the Metropolitan Opera, used to be a red light district owned by Columbia University.

The RCA building was the first to be completed and served as the headquarters for the Radio Corporation of America. This 70-story tower is the tallest in the complex and served as the foundation for all other Rockefeller structures. The RCA Building is now popularly known as 30 Rockefeller Plaza or the GE Building.

As the building was designed during the Depression, various measures were taken to ensure that all floor space is occupied; each office designed to make the most of natural light, fast elevators, air conditioning, and underground connections to the metro succeeded in attracting clients.

The best part of Rockefeller Center is the observation deck on the top floor of the GE Building. The recently renovated art-deco deck, popularly known as ‘Top of the Rock’, offers panoramic views of Central Park and the Empire State Building. This rooftop terrace has been around since the building opened in 1933 and currently the top three levels are open to the public. Easily accessible via the entrance on West 50th Street, an elevator takes the public first to the fully covered 67th floor, then to the observation deck on 69, which sports a windshield, and then to the 70th floor, which is fully open. .

The fourteen buildings of Rockefeller Center surround the Lower Plaza. Popular for its skating rinks, the Lower Plaza connects with Fifth Avenue through a pedestrian street that provides easy access to its visitors. Known as Channel Gardens, this decorated street offers views of the Prometheus sculpture and the GE building. Radio City Music Hall was, at the time of construction, the largest indoor theater in the world with a capacity of around 6,000.

Known as the ‘City in the City’, Rockefeller Center boasts exceptional design styles. All the buildings in the center share an ‘Art Deco’ style and an underground esplanade is used to connect with each other. The complex is well incorporated into New York City and is a National Historic Landmark.

Other attractions in the area include St. Patrick’s Cathedral, the Museum of Modern Art, Times Square, and Bryant Park. For travelers looking for lodging in the area, hotels near New York’s Rockefeller Center range from boutique-style to luxury apartments, luxury hotels, and budget accommodations. Online accommodation providers offer great deals on most New York hotels, ensuring comfortable accommodations and easy access to the best of New York.