Rockefeller Center Plaza - The Wolcott Hotel

The Wolcott Hotel is one of New York City's best kept hotel bargain secrets. Centrally located on 31st Street, just 3 blocks down 5th Avenue from the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center Plaza, the Wolcott offers an alternative to Manhattan's high priced hotels. It's location lends itself to one of the greatest tourist attractions in New York, 30 Rockefeller Plaza.

Rockefeller Plaza History

Rockefeller Center 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 Plaza 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. 30 Rockefeller 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 Hotel Wolcott be sure to visit the Rockefeller Plaza 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.

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