Once you step onto the United Nations Headquarters site in Midtown East you're not in the United States anymore. This is an international zone belonging to the UN's 192 Member States that supplies its own security force, fire department, postal administration, and flag.
The UN Headquarters' cornerstone was laid on the organization's fourth anniversary October 24, 1949, and staff members began moving into their new offices in August of 1950. The complex's four main structures – the General Assembly Building, the Conference Building, the 39-floor Secretariat Building, and the Dag Hammarskjold Library – encompass six Midtown blocks alongside the East River. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., donated $8.5 million and the city gifted additional property for the site that was designed by an international team of 11 architects led by American Wallace K. Harrison.
Guided tours of the headquarters are famous for their knowledgeable and well-dressed staff that offer personalized presentations in 20 languages and come from 30 different countries. An average 400,000 people tour the UN yearly, totaling 37 million since guide services began in 1952.
Your 45-minute look-see includes tours through the main council chambers, the General Assembly Hall, and exhibits on peacekeeping, decolonization, and disarmament. Feel free to ask questions as your guide explains the functions, composition, and current actions of the UN and its councils. Catch a peek at the popular Chinese ivory carving that intricately depicts the Chengtu-Kunming railway. Around 100 people worked on the piece, carved from eight elephant tusks, for more than two years. You'll also see a colorful mosaic by Norman Rockwell that illustrates people of all races, colors, and creed. Outside, note the Japanese bell, cast of coins from 60 different countries, as well as the 192 flags from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe that span First Avenue. Be sure to book your tour in advance because they often sell out, especially during schools' spring break.
Attraction Information
- Tour Hours:
- Monday through Friday: between 9:45am and 4:45pm
- Tour Admission:
- Adults: $12.50, Seniors and Students: $8, Children: $6.50
- Subway Stop:
- 4, 5, 6, 7 trains to Grand Central Station
- Contact:
- Location: First Avenue between 42nd and 48th Streets, New York, NY
- Phone: 212-963-8687
- Website: www.un.org
