Rockefeller Center is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres between 48th and 51st Streets in New York. Built by the Rockefeller family, it is located in the center of Midtown Manhattan, spanning between Fifth Avenue and Seventh Avenue. Declared a National Historic Landmark in 1987, Rockefeller Center is the largest privately held complex of its kind in the world. It is considered an international symbol of modernist architectural style blended with capitalism.
Many Americans start their morning with Rockefeller Center, as it is the home to NBC’SThe Today Show. Thousands of tourists visit Rockefeller Center each year, especially during the Christmas season for the Center’s beautiful festive decorations and magnificent tree. Each year, the perfect tree is scouted for from a helicopter; once the perfect tree is found, it makes its way to Rockefeller Center. This well-known Christmas tree remains lit until the week after New Year’s Day and is recycled through Habitat for Humanity.
Located underneath Rockefeller Center is New York’s largest underground city. The underground Concourse features retail shops, fast food, fine dining, and an ice rink. During the bitter cold months, this underground area is the perfect answer to navigate between the Rockefeller buildings while keeping warm.
One of Rockefeller Center’s most iconic buildings is 30 Rockefeller Plaza. This GE Building’s Art Deco skyscraper forms the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center and is most famously known as the headquarters of the television network NBC. It is the home to Saturday Night Live and its fictional counterpart, TGS on 30 Rock. It is also one of the most recognized skyscrapers in New York, where Charles C. Ebbet’s iconic photograph Lunch atop a Skyscraper was taken hundreds of feet above New York City’s street. Take a trip to the top floor to see the remarkable Rainbow Room (seen in Sleepless in Seattle), where elite and influential New Yorkers gather for outstanding cocktails and food in one of the most prominent restaurants and nightclubs in Manhattan. The Rainbow Room’s beautiful architecture, revolving dance floor, big band orchestra, and magnificent view of New York is absolutely perfect for the hundreds of special events they cater.
Perhaps most recognizable is the 15-foot statue of Atlas, the famous figure from Greek mythology who was condemned to carry the world on his shoulders as punishment for leading a war against the Olympic gods. Atlas is one of Rockefeller Center’s greatest Art Deco icons and has even been used on U.S. postage stamps. You may be familiar with the statue from the opening credits of 30 Rock.
Rockefeller Center been featured in many films, including Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, where Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) is reunited with his mother at the end of the movie at the Christmas tree; Autumn in New York: Will (Richard Gere) & Charlotte (Winona Ryder) ice skate here; Elf: Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) drags Buddy (Will Ferrell) here to see the most ginormous Christmas tree; On the Town: There’s a shot of the sailors here when they first arrive in NYC; and Mr. Deeds: Babe (Winona Ryder), posing as a damsel in distress snares Deeds (Adam Sandler) into her trap here at Rockefeller Center. Rockefeller Center was also the site of Paul’s proposal to Jamie on Mad about You.
Take one of our many TV & movie tours to get a glimpse of beautiful 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The NYC TV & Movie Tour, the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour, the Gossip Girl Sites Tour and the Holiday Lights & Movie Sites Tour all pass this popular filming location.
* In an effort to stay current, we are constantly updating our tours with new locations and cannot guarantee the presence of locations mentioned on our site. If you have a particular interest in locations from a specific TV show or movie, please let your tour guide know and we will do our best to accommodate your request.