Discover the Top 9 Fun Facts About Rockefeller Center: Intriguing Secrets and Hidden Gems

1. Spiderman's Garden Hideout

Spiderman's secret garden escape, not for wall-crawling crime fighters only: Hidden within the concrete jungle of New York City, Rockefeller Center boasts two luxurious rooftop gardens—the 620 Loft and Garden, an event rental spot with breathtaking views of St. Patrick's Cathedral and a cameo in the original Spiderman movie, and Tishman Speyer's office terrace—providing verdant retreats for mere mortals in the heart of the metropolis.
Source => untappedcities.com

2. Bronze Prometheus, Not Gold

Forget your gold leaf dreams, Paul Manship had a bronze awakening: The 18-foot-tall, eight-ton Prometheus statue at Rockefeller Center, created in 1934, isn't coated in 18-karat gold leaf as popularly believed; it's rocking the natural bronze look – a fire-stealing fashion statement surrounded by a fancy fountain and a zodiac ring representing the sea and heavens.
Source => rockefellercenter.com

Did you know there's an annual race to climb 1,576 steps to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observatory? Discover this adrenaline-pumping event and the building's impressive speedy elevators!

=> Fun Facts about The-Empire-State-Building

3. Unchained Prometheus & New Restaurants

In an unexpected twist of fate, the gods have finally allowed Prometheus to break free from his chains and chill by the ice rink while munching on some Korean fine-dining and veggie delights: Rockefeller Center's recent renovations have doubled the open space, showcasing the iconic bronze statue alongside three new restaurants, ensuring unobstructed views, and even adding a rooftop park atop Radio City Music Hall, replete with birch trees and picnic essentials.
Source => nypost.com

4. Birds-Eye View from 30 Rock

Feeling on top of the world, or at least, dreaming of it? Head to 30 Rock's Top of the Rock to soak in the breathtaking views that cover the bustling city that never sleeps: This elevated oasis at 850 feet above the ground grants you a stunning panorama of New York City's iconic landmarks, such as the Empire State Building and Central Park, securing its position as a must-see attraction for visitors seeking a birds-eye view of the Big Apple.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Saving Birds with Dimmed Lights

In a true avian game of "lights out": The Empire State Building dims its lights during migration season, saving countless feathered friends from fatal crashes. This clever strategy, initiated by the city's Audubon society, came after about 90,000 bird deaths occurred within a two-year span, as confused winged wanderers were lured in by the cityscape's illumination, ultimately unable to navigate their airborne paths. An energy-saving bill, proposing commercial buildings switch off their lights during off-hours, could further help our beaked buddies and lower the city's environmental footprint. However, this lifesaving legislation remains up in the air.
Source => 6sqft.com

6. Food-Themed Flags Take Flight

Feeling peckish amidst the concrete jungle? Let your appetite take flight with New York's latest culinary flag showcase: Rockefeller Center is currently displaying food-themed flags in their annual flag project to celebrate the city's resilience in response to the Covid-19 pandemic, featuring artwork submissions by City Harvest and even representing some of the center's own restaurants like Naro, Lodi, and Jupiter.
Source => nytimes.com

7. Diego Rivera's Hidden Lenin

When Diego Rivera played a high-stakes game of "Where's Lenin?": He found himself in hot water after including an image of Vladimir Lenin in his commissioned mural for the Rockefeller Center. The fiercely capitalistic Rockefeller family promptly had the controversial artwork destroyed, only for Rivera to recreate it later in Mexico as "Man, Controller of the Universe."
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Walls of Art at Rockefeller Center

If the walls at Rockefeller Center could talk, they'd probably say "look at us, we're art!" – and they wouldn't be wrong: Rockefeller Center is home to a diverse collection of public art, including over 100 murals, reliefs, sculptures, and carvings, as well as the epic mosaic "The Triumph of Knowledge over Ignorance" made of one million hand-cut glass tiles, and Paul Manship's iconic sculpture "Prometheus." This artistic hub even invites artists and designers to create unique flag designs to adorn the flagpoles surrounding The Rink.
Source => rockefellercenter.com

9. WWII's Freedom Forest of Trees

Who needs one Christmas tree when you can have a whole freedom forest?: During World War II, Rockefeller Center decided to triple the holiday cheer by showcasing not one but three Christmas trees, each adorned in red, white, and blue, as a spirited show of support for the troops and a symbol of hope and unity amidst the struggles of war.
Source => abc7ny.com