New York City is a place so known throughout the world that it is not always easy to show people something they haven’t heard of or seen. New York City has been around for a long time and seeing as it is such a world-renowned city, there’s a ton of places that are both absolutely iconic and some places that are a little less known. Everyone should get to experience the glamour of this destination at least once in their life, so if you’re planning on visiting, check out, below, our list of some of the most famous buildings in New York City. A visit to this fine city also calls for a stay at the top vacation rentals and historic hotels in town.
1. Flatiron Building
Originally called the Fuller Building, the Flatiron Building in Manhattan is named exactly how it looks—a clothes iron. It is one of the most iconic landmarks in the city and even the neighborhood around it derived its name from this historical structure. Famed architect Daniel Burnham modeled it after the Beaux-Arts style that resembles a Renaissance palace, only it is vertical! The landmark has been heavily featured in popular culture, most notably in the 1958 film Bell, Book, and Candle and the 1980 film Reds.
Flatiron Building
Address: 175 5th Ave, New York, NY 10010, United States
2. Apollo Theater
Apollo Theater in the neighborhood of Harlem in Manhattan is a famed music hall that’s been known as a venue for African-American performers. It is also home to the long-running and recently rebooted talent show Showtime at the Apollo. The landmark boasts a neo-Classical style architecture and was designed by famous American architect George Keister. The building was originally known as Hurtig & Seamon’s New Burlesque Theater when it opened in 1914 but was renamed the Apollo after two decades.
Apollo Theater
Address: 253 W 125th St, New York, NY 10027, United States
Website: Apollo Theater
3. Rockefeller Center
The world-famous Rockefeller Center, named after the influential political and banking family, in Midtown Manhattan is actually a building complex comprised of 19 commercial structures. It was initially a 14-building area that features an Art Deco style and has met several additions thereafter. Perhaps the most notable event at the center is the yearly lighting of the giant Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree. In 1985, the structure became a New York City landmark and a National Historic Landmark two years later.
Rockefeller Center
Address: 45 Rockefeller Plaza, New York, NY 10111, United States
Website: Rockefeller Center
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4. The Dakota
The Dakota is an apartment building close to Central Park on the Upper West Side. The structure was designed by Henry Janeway Hardenbergh and was said to have derived its name from the Dakota Territory, an incorporated territory that would later be known as North and South Dakota. In 1969, the building met its New York City Landmark status and then added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. Throughout its existence, it has been the residence of several famous names, including John Lennon who was gunned down on the property in 1980.
The Dakota
Address: 1 W 72nd St, New York, NY 10023, United States
New York City Tour Guide
Hiram Jacobs
I am a licensed New York City Department of Consumer Affairs Tour Guide and a native New Yorker. Over the years, I acquired considerable experience organizing solo tours of the major European and East European capitals of the world, Canada's largest cities and Australia's most popular cities, Washington, DC, Atlanta, New Orleans, and San Francisco. During my international travels, I participated in tours organized by private tour companies to China, Russia, South America, India, the Canadian Rockies, Israel, Japan's major cities; USA: Alaska, Arizona and Utah's scenic national National Parks . I received my Master of Arts in Political Science (Urban Administration) from the State University of New York, College at Brockport, Brockport, New York in 1978. Since my recent retirement from the MTA, New York City Transit Authority, after 39 years of service as an Associate Transit Management Analyst, I hope to share with my fellow Travelers my observations, insights and personal experiences relating to Manhattan’s iconic neighborhoods, landmarks and popular attractions that make New York City such a vibrant and dynamic city to visit. I will strive to make your New York City Experience memorable. Tour Cancellations - Please provide at least 24 hours notice prior to the tour date in order to cancel your booking and to receive a full refund.
Tours by Hiram
New York City Tour Guide
Stephanie Eley
I'm a graduate of ITMI, International Tour Management Institute and 17 years as a licensed Tour Director and Program Director. My expertise began in NYC and Washington, DC where I'm a licensed guide and has expanded to Europe, South America, Cuba and the Western / Southwestern National Parks of the US. I'd love to introduce you for a day or a week to Denver, Colorado and the 4 corners region of the US: Colorado, Utah, New Mexico and Arizona! Let's GO!! stepheley@gmail.com
Tours by Stephanie
5. Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum is an art museum on the Upper East Side in Manhattan. Commonly known as the Guggenheim, this famous building is home to Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artworks, as well as early modern and contemporary art. The museum continues to expand its collection. It was added to the list of New York City Landmarks in August of 1990 and to the National Register of Historic Places in May 2005. The museum was initially named the Museum of Non-Objective Painting but was changed to its current name after the death of its namesake founder.
Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
Address: 1071 5th Ave, New York, NY 10128, United States
Website: Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum
6. Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art is more colloquially known as “the met” and it is the biggest art museum in the United States and the fifth most visited museum of any kind in the world. It contains over 1 million works of art as well as some artifacts from medieval Europe, and that only scratches the surface of things you can find at the met. If you’re going to visit, make sure to go early in the morning because you will spend a lot of time here.
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Address: 1000 Fifth Avenue New York, NY 10028
Website: Metropolitan Museum of Art
7. Radio City Music Hall
Nicknamed the “showplace of the nation” Radio City Music Hall is part of Rockefeller Centre and is an NYC landmark. Radio City is a huge venue for everything from concerts and music performances to live shows including game shows like America’s Got Talent, and it even hosts events like the NFL draft picks. This New York City old building is also listed in the Register of Historic Places so even if you’re not catching a show, it’s still a great place to see.
Radio City Music Hall
Address: 1260 Avenue of the Americas (Sixth Avenue), Manhattan, New York City
Website: Radio City Music Hall
8. Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is probably one of the most iconic New York landmarks right after the Statue of Liberty. The building was built in an Art Deco style and was completed in 410 days, which was way faster than anticipated. The 102-storey building is the 5th largest in the U.S and was actually on the site of a farm once upon a time. This famous New York City building has been named one of the 7 wonders of the world and has been featured in over 250 films and TV shows including its iconic scene in King Kong.
Empire State Building
Address: 350 Fifth Avenue Manhattan, New York 10118
Website: Empire State Building
9. Grand Central Terminal
Grand Central Terminal is not only a hub of transport but it is also a hub of dining and shopping! This iconic New York City building has a distinctive architecture making it a landmark and one of the world’s most visited attractions. The place is iconic in popular culture as pretty much any movie or TV show that depicts someone coming to or leaving New York always has a scene featured in Grand Central Terminal.
Grand Central Terminal
Address: 89 E 42nd St, New York, NY 10017, USA
Website: Grand Central Terminal
10. New York Public Library
Visiting a library may not seem like such a fun thing to do while you’re on vacation, but the New York Public Library is full of history and not just in its books. Established in 1895, the New York Public Library is the second largest public library in the U.S, behind the library of Congress. It is the third largest library in the world. Much like other NYC hotspots, it too has been featured in countless movies and TV shows but also in many works of poetry, fiction and even music.
New York Public Library
Address: 476 5th Ave, New York, NY 10018, USA
Website: New York Public Library
11. St. Patrick's Cathedral
St. Patrick’s Cathedral is a neo-gothic Roman-Catholic cathedral and NYC landmark. It is the home of the Archdiocese of New York. The Cathedral is located in 5th Avenue in the heart of the city and is right across the street from Rockefeller Centre. This famous church in New York City is open to all people to visit and take in its grandeur and it has been the place of requiem masses for many famous New Yorkers like Babe Ruth, John DiMaggio, Ed Sullivan, Robert F. Kennedy, and Andy Warhol.
St. Patrick's Cathedral
Address: 5th Ave, New York, NY 10022, USA
Website: St. Patrick’s Cathedral
12. Spring Street Salt Shed
Spring Street Salt Shed is a new piece of New York landmarks and it is certainly a unique place to visit. The shape of the building is supposed to be a granule of salt. The building was unveiled in 2015 and is a stark contrast to many of the buildings in the area, so it is definitely not hard to find. The shed cannot be entered but it can be seen as far as the Hudson River.
Spring Street Salt Shed
Address: 336 Spring St, New York, New York, United States
13. Oculus
The Oculus is another new spot on our list of popular New York City buildings. Similar to Grand Central Terminal, the Oculus is a transport hub for the future. It is the main room in the newly built World Trade Transit Station and also connects the Westfield World Trade Centre Mall making it a hub of transport and commerce for the modern age.
Oculus
Address: Church St, New York, NY 10006, USA
Website: Oculus
14. Woolworth Building
Woolworth Building is located on Broadway and was designed by architect Cass Gilbert. It was one of the first skyscrapers in the U.S. It’s been a historic U.S landmark since 1966 and was built in 1912. The Woolworth Company only occupied two floors of the building leaving much of it to be rented out by other businesses. Eventually, Colombia Records would build a recording studio there and it was also home to the Kellex Corporation during WWII, part of the Manhattan Project to develop nuclear weapons.
Woolworth Building
Address: 233 Broadway New York,
Website: Woolworth Building
15. Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is located right next to Grand Central Terminal, and for 11 months, it was the world’s largest building before being surpassed by another New York landmark, the Empire State Building. The Art Deco style building was designed by Walter Chrysler or the Chrysler Corporation and it was the car manufacturers headquarters until the mid-1950’s. The building has an observation deck and lobby and has been featured in movies like Spiderman and Annie.
Chrysler Building
Address: 405 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10174, USA
Website: Chrysler Building
Famous buildings of New York
New York has a ton of history behind some old architectural marvels. Iconic buildings of the past intermingle with those of the present giving New York a diverse and ever-changing landscape.
History
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