30 Rockefeller Plaza

30 Rockefeller Plaza is the central, landmark skyscraper within Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan and serves as a major commercial and media hub. Constructed during the early 1930s, it has long housed prominent broadcasters and corporate tenants and features a widely visited public observation deck.

Built as the RCA Building and completed in 1933, the skyscraper was the centerpiece of John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s Rockefeller Center project and quickly became a hub for radio then television broadcasting. Over time the building’s identity and primary tenants evolved, and it remains a working office tower as well as a major visitor destination.

The building occupies a full city block bounded by Fifth Avenue and Sixth Avenue (Avenue of the Americas) in Midtown Manhattan, directly between 49th and 50th Streets and immediately west of St. Patrick’s Cathedral and east of Radio City Music Hall.

• Best time for views: Observation tickets are sold with timed entry; sunset hours are especially popular and often require advance booking to avoid long queues.
• Construction era: Completed during the early 1930s as the centerpiece of Rockefeller Center, it houses major television studios and corporate offices.

What to See #

• Top of the Rock observation deck: A multi-tiered public observation area on the upper floors offering north-south views across Midtown Manhattan including clear sightlines to Central Park and the Empire State Building.
• Rainbow Room: A historic private event venue with panoramic city views, located within the building and notable for its Art Deco interior and long-standing social history.