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Vacantier

Activity New York City, USA

Private Midtown Manhattan Art and Architecture Walking Tour

3–4 hours Free cancellation Private tour
Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Private Midtown Manhattan Art and Architecture Walking Tour

About this activity

This Midtown Manhattan walking tour includes every aspect of the built environment: the city's historical move uptown, public and private works of art and architecture. This tour is unique for the underground passages, tunnels and POPS (privately-owned-public-places) that link these curated blocks of the city's most interesting and engaging spaces.

Half-day Tours Private and Luxury Private Sightseeing Tours Architecture Tours Historical Tours Art Tours Walking Tours New Product

At a glance

Duration
3–4 hours
Confirmation
Instant confirmation
Ticket
Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group
Your group only
People per booking
1–9
Guide
English
Operated by
Manhattan Unlocked Historical and Architectural Walking Tours

What is included

Included

  • Included: Expert guide

Not included

  • Not included: Gratuities

Itinerary

  1. Hell's Kitchen

    15 min

    We start the tour by dipping our toe into the tenements of Hell's Kitchen, a good juxtaposition for the residential history we see on Fifth Avenue at the end of the tour.

    We discuss zoning laws and POPS (privately-owned-public- spaces) at Worldwide Plaza.

  2. Times Square

    15 min

    At the Citizen Hotel in tims Square we discuss the history of New York and its move uptown.

    In the hotel lobby we see works by Julien Opie

  3. Times Square

    Passing by

    787 Axa Equitable (now, BNP Paribas). Here we deconstruct a Roy Lichtenstein mural, then head out back to more works of art and 6 1/2 Avenue, a quirk of zoning and creative urban planning.

  4. Midtown

    30 min

    We pass into an underground tunnel netwoek that links a series of Midtown Manhattan corportate lobbies with stunning works of art, from Frank Stell and Fritz Glarner to Sarah Morris and Mark Bradford.

    Skyscraper Alley is the nickname for these buildings by Wallace Harrison, part of the consortium of architects who built rockefeller Center.

  5. Rockefeller Center

    30 min

    We pass through Rockefeller Center and along the way discuss the fascinating, inordinate history, incuding: Columbia University, holdouts, Alexander Hamilton, Diego Rivera, radio and televison, the Rockefellers themselves , the architectural genius of Raymod Hood, and an incredible array of art. One key to understanding the hisotry of Modern architecture is in Rockefeller Center's program of art, not ornament, in its architecture (thoguh we'll see where John. D. Rockefeller Jr. won out over his architects and got a bit of ornament in his buildings)

  6. St. Patrick's Cathedral

    15 min

    You will always remember the view up the escalator to behold St. Patrick's Cathdrel across the Street.

    We admire one of New York's most beautiful spaces, the last room in Rockefeller Center before heading out on Fifth Avenue.

    Becuase they are long gone, pictures bring back the era when Venderbilt manisons stretched from this part of Fifth Avenue up to Central Park.

  7. Fifth Avenue

    Passing by

    We discuss the history of Fifth Avenue and its periods of development.

  8. Olympic Tower

    20 min

    We pass through the POPS of Olympic Tower and depending. We may use this time to discuss history or architecture if seating is availabe,

  9. Stop 9

    10 min

    This building represents the height of Modern architecture; we put it in context with the development of the rest of the block.

  10. Park Avenue

    20 min

    There's a tone of hiostry to talk about here: Grand Central Terminal, the grid, the transformation of Park Avenue, twice! And the current "history" underway.

  11. Monkey Bar

    3 min

    A must see stop on the tour.

  12. Midtown

    20 min

    The tour ends with two of New York's most prized POPS that are across the street from each other: 550 Madison and the IBM building's POPS.

Meeting point and pickup

Everyone meets at the meeting point.

Meeting point

  • We meet in front of the Food Emporium supermarket on the northeast corner of 49th Street and 8th Avenue.

End point

  • The tour ends on 57th Street below the residential "pencil towers" of Billionaire's Row, near the corner of Tiffany's and Fifth Avenue.

Cancellation

Free cancellation

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

If you cancel You get back
At least one day before 100%
Less than a day before 0%
  • The operator may cancel if the weather does not allow it; you then get another date or your money back.

Good to know

  • 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

  • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health

  • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

Activities, prices and reviews are from Viator. Booking and payment happen on Viator; Vacantier may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Private Midtown Manhattan Art and Architecture Walking Tour

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