Midtown Manhattan: New York's Icons in a Single Day

What you'll see and hear

The stops on this route, in order — with audio previews where available.

1. 1

   PlayStation Theater

   PlayStation Theater was a live events venue in New York City. It opened in September 2005. The venue was designed by architect David Rockwell. It was originally built as the Loews Astor Plaza movie theater, which opened in 1974. The space was converted into a live-event venue by the Anschutz Entertainment Group. The theater closed on December 31, 2019. It later reopened as Palladium Times Square. The venue featured an 85-foot-long LED screen, one of the largest marquees on Broadway. This massive screen could display live footage from the stage or anywhere else in the theater.

   Audio preview
2. 2

   Empire State Building

   Empire State Building. Construction began on March 17, 1930. It officially opened on May 1, 1931. The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon Associates. It was the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years. It has been featured in over 250 films. The spire was originally designed as a mooring mast for airships, but no airship ever docked there.

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3. 3

   Gertrude Stein

   Gertrude Stein Gallery. This gallery was founded in 1963 by Gertrude Stein. It was located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. The gallery became a hub for artists working outside the mainstream. It was a strong supporter of the NO!art movement. The gallery closed its doors in 2026. A surprising fact is that Gertrude Stein was the first American woman to have a public statue erected in her honor in New York City.

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4. 4

   Grand Central Terminal

   Grand Central Terminal is a truly iconic landmark. It first opened its doors in 1871 as Grand Central Depot. It was later rebuilt and renamed Grand Central Station. The current Grand Central Terminal we see today officially opened on February 2, 1913. This magnificent structure was designed by the architectural firms Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore. A fascinating detail is that the famous celestial mural on the Main Concourse ceiling is actually painted upside down, showing the constellations from a divine perspective.

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5. 5

   Chrysler Building

   The Chrysler Building is an iconic Art Deco skyscraper. Construction began in 1929 and it was completed in 1930. It was commissioned by Walter Chrysler, the founder of the Chrysler Corporation. The building was designed by architect William Van Alen. For a short time, it was the tallest building in the world. The spire was secretly assembled inside the building and then hoisted into place to beat a rival skyscraper in the race for height.

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6. 6

   Japanese Peace Bell

   The Japanese Peace Bell was donated to the United Nations Headquarters in June 1954. It was established by Chiyoji Nakagawa. The bell is rung each year on the International Day of Peace. It was transported to New York on the maiden voyage of a ship in 1954. A handful of sand from Hiroshima and Nagasaki was buried under its foundation stone.

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7. 7

   The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree

   The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is a world-famous holiday icon. The very first tree was put up by construction workers in 1931 during the Great Depression. It was a humble 20-foot balsam fir decorated with simple items like paper garlands and tin cans. The first official tree lighting ceremony happened in 1933 with a 50-foot tree and 700 lights. Over the years, the tree has grown in size and spectacle, becoming a symbol of hope and holiday cheer. In 1998, one tree even traveled to Rockefeller Center by being flown in on the world's second-largest transport plane at the time.

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8. 8

   Radio City Music Hall

   Radio City Music Hall opened its doors on December 27, 1932. It was built by John D. Rockefeller Jr. as part of his ambitious Rockefeller Center project. This iconic venue was designed by Edward Durell Stone and Donald Deskey in the stunning Art Deco style. It was intended to be a "palace for the people," offering high-quality entertainment at affordable prices. A surprising detail is that the original name for Radio City was the International Music Hall.

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9. 9

   MoMA

   The Museum of Modern Art, or MoMA, was founded in 1929 by Abby Aldrich Rockefeller, Lillie P. Bliss, and Mary Quinn Sullivan. It was the first museum in America dedicated solely to modern art. MoMA's collection grew from just eight prints and one drawing to over 200,000 works. The museum moved to its current location on 53rd Street in 1939. Interestingly, MoMA once had a guard dog named Don to help with security.

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10. 10

    Carnegie Hall

    Carnegie Hall was founded by Andrew Carnegie. Construction began in 1890, and the Music Hall, as it was originally known, opened in 1891 with a concert series that included the American debut of composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. It quickly became a premier venue for music and other performances. In the late 1950s, the hall was slated for demolition but was saved by a public campaign led by violinist Isaac Stern. It is now a National Historic Landmark. Believe it or not, the hall was almost torn down to make way for a skyscraper!

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11. 11

    Columbus Circle

    Columbus Circle is a vibrant hub at the southwest corner of Central Park. Its story began in 1857 when designers Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux included it in their original plans for the park. The iconic Columbus Monument was added in 1892 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Columbus's voyage. This circle has always been a significant spot, even serving as the official starting point for measuring distances from the city. Did you know that the two towers of the Time Warner Center were designed so they would never cast a shadow on Central Park?

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12. 12

    Vessel