- Category
- Architecture
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Location
- New York
- Traverse 42nd Street from East to West
- Led by an architecture or history expert
- Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, New York Public Library, and Times Square
Itinerary Details
We’ll continue along to Grand Central Station, a magnificent Beaux-Arts structure and temple to transportation, where we’ll gaze up at the star-flecked sky of the Main Concourse and discuss the Terminal’s origins during the heyday of long-distance passenger rail service. Just two blocks away, we’ll visit New York Public Library, a building that offers sumptuous exterior decoration and interiors for a very different purpose. We’ll conclude our walk in Bryant Park, one of the signature examples of New York City’s revival in the 1990's, or perhaps head down to the New York Times Building.
FAQ
Generally speaking, the walk begins near Tudor City on 2nd Avenue. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map, and 24/7 phone number. The walk typically ends near Bryant Park or Time Square.
Do we go inside the venues or just see them from the outside?
You will go inside the lobbies of several of the skyscrapers we discuss on the walk. Some of these include the Chrysler Building, Daily News Building, and Grand Central Terminal.
What if it’s raining?
Tours operate rain or shine, but in the case of inclement weather, your guide will modify the tour so more time is spent indoors. It never hurts to have an umbrella on hand.
Is this tour good for kids and teens?
Yes! We have some excellent family friendly guides who can appeal to the learning styles of children. We have a separate Building the City walk just for families with children 12 and under. When booking, feel free to provide us with information about your children such as favorite school subjects, and hobbies. This way we can match you with the best possible guide.
Is this a walking intensive tour?
This walk covers about 1.25 miles overall. There are occasional opportunities to sit, use the bathroom, and get something to drink if needed.
Matico Josephson has been a student of New York's built environment for as long as he can remember, and an explorer of the city's nooks and crannies for even longer. His curiosity has found an outlet in the History of Architecture, in which he has recently been pursuing a Ph.D. at NYU's Institute of Fine Arts. He will prepare a dissertation on modern architecture in Spain.
Having earned his Master’s degree in History and Philosophy at the CUNY Graduate Center, Daniel London continues his pursuit of the urban past through intensive research into the following questions: How have cities been built, experienced and imagined by different social groups across time? How have these understandings conflicted or converged with each other? And finally, how have these discussions and debates impacted the city we see today? He is currently teaching a course on American Urban History, working at the Museum of the City of New York, and is planning his dissertation on public space in early-twentieth century New York.
Monica Valley is a media designer and an art historian, specializing in later twentieth century art. A popular teacher in New York museums and galleries, she is currently pursuing doctoral studies focusing on the early work of Robert Rauschenberg. Monica has programmed and led art study tours to India, Italy and Portugal, and is fluent in Portuguese.
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
