Rockefeller Center
Even though it tends to be a bit touristy, I happen to love Rockefeller Center. It's art deco design has always intrigued me (interior and exterior) and stepping off Fifth or Sixth Avenues into Rockefeller Center’s ‘city-in-a-city’ transports you to a different era. It’s a massive complex that spans 22 acres, which is a lot of land for NYC standards. So what was there before it was constructed 90 years ago?
The land that Rockefeller Center sits on was once home to the United States first botanical garden, Elgin Botanic Garden, and sat 3-4 miles north of the city’s center on farmland. Hard to imagine today! It was created in 1801 by David Hosack, inspired by the gardens he had seen in Europe. Hosack’s main claim to fame was that he was the doctor who tended to Alexander Hamilton’s fatal wound after his duel with Aaron Burr.
Elgin Botanic Garden (in midtown Manhattan!)
Photo by Wiki Commons
In 1810, no longer able to maintain Elgin Botanic Garden, Hosack sold it to the City of New York who then gave it to King’s College (which would later be named Columbia University) who’s campus was a few blocks away on Madison Avenue and 49th Street. (In 1896, Columbia relocated its campus to the present day location in Morningside Heights.)
In 1926, The Metropolitan Opera, quickly outgrowing its original home on 39th and Broadway, started plans to build a new opera house at the current Rockefeller Center plot. Unable to afford it on their own, they brought in John D. Rockefeller, Jr. to help with funding and planning. As part of the deal, Columbia University then leased the land to Rockefeller at $3 million per year for 87 years.
Unfortunately, the Great Depression of 1929 set in, postponing the Metropolitan Opera’s plans.
John D. Rockefeller Jr., then pivoted and negotiated plans to build a mass media complex with RCA, NBC and RKO. The complex, (which would become the largest private construction project ever undertaken in the U.S. until Hudson Yards came along) would be mixed-use with both retail and office space. When construction began in 1930 the depression was well underway, so Rockefeller himself invested $100,000,000 (that’s millions!) in the project, keeping it alive during the hard times.
One of the most iconic construction photos ever taken (Lunch Atop a Skyscraper) took place in 1933 during the construction of 30 Rock - Photo by Wiki Commons
During the first winter, construction workers at Rockefeller Center pooled their money and purchased a 20-foot balsam fir tree and decorated it with homemade ornaments. It became a symbol of hope and optimism in some very hard times, and as we now know, would become a tradition for years to come. With the addition of the ice rink, The Rockettes and the annual Christmas Spectacular show at Radio City Music Hall, Rockefeller Center would become a huge tourist destination for holiday visitors.
The first Rockefeller Christmas Tree. I love that you can see St. Patrick’s Cathedral in the background - Photo by Rockefeller Center
It was officially opened in 1933, but wasn’t complete until 1939. The massive art deco complex is composed of 19 buildings spanning 22 acres. It has a massive underground pedestrian mall and tunnel system spanning the entire footprint, complete with retail and restaurants. It gained landmark status in 1987.
Photo by New York Historical Society
One of my favorite sculptures is ‘Atlas’ by Lee Lawrie and Rene Chambellan (1936) which sits in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. I was commissioned by friends to paint it many years ago as well!
One of my favorite sculptures is ‘Atlas’ by Lee Lawrie and Rene Chambellan (1936) which sits in front of St. Patrick’s Cathedral on Fifth Avenue. I was commissioned by friends to paint it many years ago as well!
Did you know there’s a secret apartment within Radio City Music Hall? In 1932, famous theatrical impresario Samuel “Roxy” Rothafel opened Radio City Music Hall, a theater on the south west side of the complex. As a gift, Radio City’s designers Stone and Durrell built him his own apartment above the theater for entertaining. A few of his notable guests were Samuel Goldwyn and Alfred Hitchcock. Still in existence today and known as the Roxy Suite, it can be booked for high end luxury events.
Photos by Atlas Obscura
Today, Rockefeller Center is virtually unchanged aside from the retail and commercial tenants within the site, although NBC has remained for the entire 90 years. I enjoy passing through it whenever I’m in midtown as it’s a nice respite from the craziness of Fifth or Sixth Avenues.
Photo by Pexels - AlfredGF
Photo by NBC
Today, the Rockefeller Christmas tree and all of the showbiz and retail that surrounds its annual lighting can be a bit overwhelming and even off-putting to some. But the next time you gaze up at the tree, stop and remember back to its original conception during a dark, recession-heavy Christmas back in 1930—a symbol of hope and optimism when times are hard.
