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Let’s take a short history tour of Rockefeller Center, followed by a tour of its very interesting sculptures, bas-reliefs, and murals. I guess this is how it looked in 1800, when it was Elgin Botanical Garden, the first of its kind in the US. 1500 species of plants, on 20 acres.
It was too difficult to maintain, and ended up in the hands of Columbia University. Over the years, it was not treated well. By the 1920s, it had deteriorated into "an unseemly collection of boarding houses, nightclubs & speakeasies”. In 1928, it all changed.
Columbia leased it to John D. Rockefeller, for $3.5 million a year, for up to 87 years. Then things really took off. 1931 was demolition of many buildings, and commencement of massive building projects. 1931 was the unofficial first tree, followed by the official on in 1933.
By 1939, this area was loaded with incredible structures, and varied artworks.
