New York Rockefeller Center

The Riverside Tower Hotel is one of the best budget hotels in NYC that is located just a few blocks from the Rockefeller Center New York. The Riverside hotel offers some of the New York's best hotel specials and it's location lends itself to one of the greatest tourist attractions in town—the New York Rockefeller Center.

Rockefeller Center Garden Plaza History

Rockefeller Center New York is an art deco marvel masterpiece consisting of 19 commercial buildings covering 11 acres in midtown Manhattan. The plaza derives its name from the multi-millionaire, John D. Rockefeller, who leased the space from Columbia University in 1928. Originally occupied by tenements and theaters, Rockefeller planned to revitalize the area with 3 huge office buildings and a new Metropolitan Opera House.

The stock market crash of 1929 helped scrap the original plans but Rockefeller still wanted a commercial district. Hiring 3 architecture firms and a consulting firm, ground was broken on the Rockefeller Center Garden we see today. 30 Rockefeller Plaza was the largest and first built. It is the centerpiece of the plaza and probably best known building as well.

The 70-story Empire State Building still towers over its modern competitors. Completed in 1934, 30 Rockefeller Plaza became the RCA headquarters. Today, General Electric's initials now brighten the rooftop and the home of NBC. Rockefeller Center Garden Plaza is the most public of the buildings and 2 of the most popular tourist attractions in New York reside here.

During your next stay at the Riverside Tower Hotel be sure to visit the New York Rockefeller Center and take a tour of the NBC Studios. It allows visitors to see where popular shows like Saturday Night Live, Late Night With Conan O'Brien, and the NBC News are taped.

Tour the Rockefeller Center New York and reserve your room at the Riverside Tower today.

—photograph and text portions courtesy of NYC Tourist: The Rockefeller Center Photo Tour