New York City, it’s one heck of a town. Population-wise, it?s the largest in the United States.? Originally known as “New Amsterdam”, the city became “New York” after the English took over in 1664. From 1785 to 1790 it even served as the capital of the United States.? Today the city is a global capital, playing host to the United Nations. But above all else, New York is an icon, a city unlike any other, which may at least partially explain the sheer amount of nicknames the city has acquired: “The Big Apple”, “The City that Never Sleeps”, or even just “The City”. A unique city by definition is going to have a unique history, and from that unique history we are going to find an abundance of historic buildings and locations. Below are just a few. Were we to even attempt to list all of them, it would require a thick book, probably several.

Empire State Building

photo credit: ajagendorf25

Currently the tallest building in the city, and the third largest in the United States, the Empire State Building is the most famous skyscraper along New York City’s skyline. When one takes into account the sheer amount of time required to build a skyscraper these days, it is almost mind boggling to consider that this enormous, sound structure broke ground on January 22nd, 1930, began official construction on March 31st, and was opened on May 1st, 1931. Unfortunately, this coincided with the great depression, and the building would not turn a profit until 1950. Today, it is a symbol of the city.

Flatiron Building

photo credit: Mossaiq

Mention the “Flatiron Building” to most non-New Yorkers, and they’ll stare at you as if you had carrots sticking out of your ears. Show them a photo, however, and they?ll instantly know what you’re talking about. So why is this building historically significant? Because it is one of the first skyscrapers to ever be built in New York. The building sports an iconic triangular shape, with the offices at the triangle’s narrowest point being the most sought after. Along with bringing new meaning to the term, “corner office” they also feature a great view of the Empire State Building.

New York Public Library

photo credit: melanzane1013

The official name for this library is actually “The Humanities and Social Science Library of the New York Public Library”. It is the main branch of New York City’s amazing library system. The building began construction in 1902 and officially opened on May 23rd, 1911. At the time of its planning, the library was the largest marble structure in the United States. The interior featured 75 miles of shelving, and today contains much more. A renovation for the building is currently in the planning stages.

Grand Central Terminal

photo credit: loop_oh

Although more famously known outside New York as “Grand Central Station”, the correct term is actually “Grand Central Terminal”. Not only is it quite possibly the most famous railway terminal in the world, it is also the largest with 44 platforms total. Three buildings have stood on the site, each serving basically the same function. The one standing today was built between 1903 and 1913. Electrification allowed the terminal to make use of cutting edge technologies, namely, a bi-level station below ground. Today, the building has recently gone under a renovation, especially its ceiling, and is as beautiful as ever.

Chrysler Building

photo credit: joiseyshowaa

While the Empire State Building tends to receive all of the attention, it is the Chrysler Building that is considered by many to be the absolute best looking skyscraper in the city. The building was actually the tallest upon its completion until the Empire State was finished only eleven months later. To this day though, it is still the tallest steel-supported brick building in the world. Construction began on September 19th, 1928 and was completed on May 28th, 1930. Among New Yorkers, the building today is quietly even more popular than the Empire State as discovered by recent surveys.

Rockefeller Center & GE Building

photo credit: Rob Young

This complex of some nineteen commercial buildings is arguably most famous today, not for Radio City Music Hall (which most outsiders don’t even realize is part of the center), but for the General Electric Building found at 30 Rockefeller Plaza, also known as 30 Rock. This building is the headquarters of NBC, with the studios for both “Saturday Night Live” and “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon” found within its premises. The building was completed in 1933 and the Rockefeller family themselves have their offices within the building. Originally located on the 56th floor, the family offices now span between the 54th through 56th levels.

Plaza Hotel

photo credit: cliff1066???

For outsiders, the Plaza Hotel is known for one thing in particular: as the place where apparently all brides in New York want to be married. The Plaza is the second grand hotel to be located at its address; the current one opened on October 1st, 1907. Since then, the hotel has become a New York icon. It, along with the Waldorf-Astoria, are the only two hotels in the city to be granted National Historic Landmark status. The building recently went through a huge renovation. It was completely closed on April 30th 2005, and did not reopen until March 1st, 2008. Today, The Plaza features 282 hotel rooms and 152 condominiums, Suffice to say, the condominiums sell for top dollar.

Statue of Liberty

photo credit: kennymatic

What can one say? It is the most iconic structure in all of New York City. Nearly all Americans have at least one ancestor who’s first sight of the United States was this great statue greeting them. The statue was a gift from France for the United States 100th birthday and is a symbol for the solidarity formed between the two countries during the Revolutionary War. The statue itself is 151 feet tall, but including its pedestal, it towers over 305 feet above its surroundings.

New York City is many things, but it especially an icon. No surprise then that many of its buildings are some of the most iconic sites to be found in the world.