A major tourist attraction during the holiday season, Rockefeller Center, developed by millionaire John D. Rockefeller during the 1930s, is a complex of 19 commercial buildings covering 22 acres (89,000 m2) between 48th and 51st Streets in the heart of midtown Manhattan. Because of the period these buildings were constructed, they were all made in the Art Deco style. The lobby of the GE Building, considered the main structure within Rockefeller Center, is noted for two murals painted by Spanish artist Josep María Sert.

These days, a major attraction of this complex is the ice skating rink, which is located within a lower plaza in front of the GE Building (30 Rockefeller Plaza, a.k.a. “30 Rock”). The rink’s most conspicuous feature is a bronzed statue of the Greek mythological figure Prometheus. During the Spring and Summer months, the ice rink is converted into an outdoor café.

Another holiday attraction is the Rockefeller Christmas Tree, which is usually a Norway spruce tree measuring 60 to 100 feet (21 to 30 m) in height, decorated with thousands of lights. Families attending Christmas shows being held at nearby Radio City Music Hall are among those visiting the Tree every Christmas season.

Those seeing the Tree will notice the nearby building 10 Rockefeller Plaza, whose lobby is used as a studio (a.k.a. “Studio 1A”) for NBC (National Broadcast Company)’s popular morning program “The Today Show”. The network has an outdoor studio in front of the building, where live broadcasts are often made, including live performances of various musical artists.

A year-round attraction at Rockefeller Center 5th Avenue is an underground concourse, consisting of various shops and restaurants popular with both tourists and local office workers. This concourse – stretching from 47th Street to 51st Street, is accessible via lobby stairways in six of the Center’s buildings, as well as via the 47-50th Street Subway station below Sixth Avenue (B, D, F and M train lines).

The underground concourse also provides entry to another attraction at Rockefeller Center 5th Avenue: Top of the Rock. Located at the top floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza (the 70th floor), “Top of the Rock” has three viewing decks and unobstructed 360-degree city views. Tourists often get their photo taken from that site.