UNITED NATIONS

The construction of the United Nations in New York, largely due to the efforts of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., further established New York City as a major international city and as the "capital of the world."  It was a tremendous undertaking especially following the difficult years of World War II.  

President Franklin D. Roosevelt coined the name, United Nations, during World War II when representatives from 26 countries met and pledged their support to continue fighting the Axis Powers.  The United Nation officially came into existence on October 24, 1945.  Cities around the world, including Geneva, Switzerland, San Francisco, Boston and Philadelphia, competed to become the United Nations' home.  One man, John D. Rockefeller Jr., was most instrumental and responsible for getting the United Nations to locate in New York City.  Rockefeller donated the land for the UN site, which he had purchased for $8.5 million.   

The first session of the United Nationals Assembly had taken place in London on January 10, 1946.  The Security Council met at NYC's Hunter College in March of that same year.  President Harry Truman presided over the building's dedication in New York City on October 24, 1949.   

An international committee of architects designed the building.  Among them were France’s Le Corbusier, Brazil’s Oscar Niemeyer, Sweden’s Sven Markelius and chief architect, America’s Wallace Harrison.  The Secretariat, 544 feet tall and only 72 feet thick, was primarily designed by Le Corbusier but carried out by Wallace K. Harrison of the U.S., the chairman of the committee and chief architect.  The building was the first New York City structure to have a glass curtain wall of blue-green Thermopane glass, which lessens the need for air-conditioning.  The 39-story building has an aluminum grille and narrow end walls of white marble. 

The United Nations' headquarters is located at 42nd Street and First Avenue at the East River on Manhattan's East Side.  The building is built on what was once a tobacco field.   

Tours of the United Nations building are available, but should be booked in advance.