Rockefeller Center: New York’s Art Deco City within a City

Rising from the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930s, Rockefeller Center helped shift the epicenter of New York’s business community from the Wall Street area to Midtown Manhattan. But how did New York’s first master-planned, integrated commercial district come to be? And how would it eventually become synonymous with things like NBC Studios, ice skating, and the world’s most famous Christmas tree? It’s time to explore this 22-acre masterpiece of urban planning and design, one which remains one of the most prominent sites in all of New York.

Join New York Adventure Club as we embark on a virtual exploration of Rockefeller Center — an Art Deco building complex commissioned by the Rockefeller family in the 1930s that is considered one of the greatest projects of the Great Depression era.

Led by NYC Tour Guide Michael Morgenthal, our digital showcase of this legendary complex will include:

Why John D. Rockefeller Jr. got stuck with land in Midtown he could not lease, and how he pivoted to develop the property himself, placing a huge bet on New York in the middle of the Great Depression
How Rockefeller Center became the epicenter of Christmas in New York, from the origin story of the tradition to the official Christmas tree selection, transportation, and decoration process
How NBC came to call 30 Rockefeller Plaza home, along with a list of some of its most popular television shows including the Tonight Show and Saturday Night Live
The stunning artwork inside and out at Rockefeller Center, and the scandal surrounding what was supposed to be the signature piece in the entire complex
The untold connection between the number 27 and all of the early Rockefeller Center buildings
Rockefeller Center in the 21st century and how this 1930s campus has managed to remain vibrant and relevant all these decades later