"New York City's United Nations headquarters was in the news a lot this fall, as the annual U.N. General Assembly took over Midtown East with important meetings, escalator drama and oh-so-much traffic. The building was under high security during the event, making the complex feel off-limits for all the non-delegates among us. But other than during the annual General Assembly in September, the building is actually accessible for visitors-and it's absolutely fascinating to see inside."
"It's no secret from looking at the Midtown East complex that this place is big, but I had no idea of just how big. The headquarters comprises multiple buildings-the Secretariat building, the General Assembly building, the Conference building and the Library building-on an 18-acre plot of land. Today, it seems like a natural fit that this headquarters would be situated in Manhattan, but that wasn't the case at first. Back in 1946 when the United States was chosen as the building's host country, there was a lot of debate about where the building would go. Possible locations included Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco and areas north of New York City."
The United Nations headquarters sits in Midtown East, Manhattan, occupying an 18-acre complex that includes the Secretariat, General Assembly, Conference, and Library buildings. John D. Rockefeller purchased an eastern Manhattan site for $8.5 million and donated it, and additional city land gifts completed the current footprint. Design proposals began in 1947 and construction occurred from 1949 through 1950. Site selection in 1946 considered several U.S. cities before Manhattan prevailed. The complex is open for public tours outside the annual General Assembly, during which security tightens and access becomes restricted.
Read at Time Out New York
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