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Midtown Manhattan Art and Architecture Walking Tour

Midtown Manhattan Art and Architecture Walking Tour

Overview

This Midtown Manhattan walking tour is a comprehensive look at the city's historical development as told through the buildings themselves. Fascinating strands of social, cultural, technological, real estate and zoning law histories are woven together in this wide and deep look New York's Midtown art and architecture.

City: New York City

Fri 21 Mar

Other dates

You can choose the date already on the booking website

Starting at $79.00

Make a reservation

Fri 21 Mar

Starting at $79.00

Make a reservation

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What's Included

Professional guide

Additional Info

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Operates in all weather conditions, please dress appropriately

What To Expect

Eighth Avenue

We begin at the boundary of Hells Kitchen and Times Square with an overview of the city's historic move uptown. We cover the basics of historical (academic) architecture up to the Modern period, and from overblown Beaux Arts to ornament-free skyscrapers. We learn the fundamentals of zoning in this POPS (Privately Owned Public Space). Works by Sidney Simon and Matt Mullican.

Times Square

We stop at the Allianz Building and Warner Music Group to take in the view of Times Square from the north. Zoning laws achieved a look inspired by Tokyo!

6 1/2 Avenue

We look as far uptown as we can along this 6-block long quirk in zoning, so-called "6 1/2 Avenue," a mid-block arcade that doesn't quite connect Times Square with Central Park.

UBS Art Gallery

They have a world renown collection and their lobby is divided between temporary and permanent exhibits that include Frank Stella and Sarah Morris.

Exxon Building

Monumental is the common theme to works by Hiroshu Senju and Kan Yasuda. Outside on the plaza is La Gran Manzana.

Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas)

We stop in 1221 (the McGraw Hill building) the see a work by visual artist Mark Bradford. Out onto Sixth Avenue stand below "Skyscraper Alley," some of the worst products wrought by man and zoning law. Across the street begins the art and architecture, and story Rockefeller Center, one of the greatest civic-minded entrepreneurial (seriously) projects in modern history. The Art Deco of Rockefeller Center would come to define the style. Most interesting to point out are the subtle shifts from the "Modernistic" (Art Deco) to the Modern as the project progressed after the passing of Raymond Hood.

Radio City Music Hall

We learn the origin story of the name for every venue today named Roxy.

Rockefeller Center

The politics of the day, and the Rockefeller family dynamic, are the most interesting backstories to the art history of likely the most important corporate lobby in Modern history. The story of radio and David Sarnoff is also integral to the story.

The Rink at Rockefeller Center

Art and architecture reach their apex outside where the Christmas tree goes every year. There is a mix-bag of interesting history: holdouts, Diego Rivera and the Rockefellers, the story of the ice-skating rink and perhaps the greatest reversal-of-fortune in Rockefeller Center history.

Rockefeller Center

The lobby of the International Building is a work of art itself. Light and Movement by Michio Lhaza are the wall "center pieces." Atlas by Lee Lawrie stands outside facing St. Pat's

St. Patrick's Cathedral

The history of Fifth Avenue is told through its buildings.

Park Avenue

Architecture. We learn the evolution of Park Avenue from open train tracks, to high end residential, to today's corporate buildings. Buildings discussed are: The Health and Racquet Club (1918), St. Bart's (1919), The New York Central Building (1929), The Waldorf Astoria (1931), The GE Building (1931), Lever House (1952), The Seagram Building (1958), and the Met Life Building (1963).

Show 9 more stops

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Traveler Photos

Reviews (24)

Gale_C

Sep 2019

We absolutely loved this tour. Rob was extremely knowledgeable and we couldn’t have learned more! Probably know more than most New Yorkers now!

Response from Host

Aug 2023

Thank you!

Titanbearcat

Mar 2019

Super interesting tour that covered a swath of Midtown I have visited numerous times before, but this helped me see it in a whole new way. My sons, 18 and 16, found it fascinating too. We learned the architectural history of buildings around us, the history of the city and viewed a great mixture of art in public and private spaces. Small group, super knowledgeable guide, I highly recommend!

LizC62

Jan 2019

My husband and my 26 yr old son and I all enjoyed this very much. You walk in the passages that connect buildings. This is not some sort of subterranean world, just normal corridors just below the city. The guide was very knowledgeable and show us a number of places that if I lived in the city and was looking for a chill place to hang I would have returned. There is definitely some walking, but at a leisurely pace.

Response from Host

Feb 2019

Thank you very much, Liz, it was a pleasure taking you and your family around. I hope to see you again on future tours. Rob