Our final stop brought us to Rockefeller Center, where we were warmly welcomed by Alex Kagy, the Center’s Experience Project Coordinator. He walked us through the long, intertwined history between Rockefeller Center and the UN.
Between 1946 and 1950, the UN occupied offices in the French Building (610 Fifth Avenue) and the RKO Building (1270 Avenue of the Americas). The French Building already had a UN connection: it housed the United Nations Information Organization (UNIO) from 1942 to 1945.
Although technically a wartime Allied initiative, UNIO was one of the first bodies to publicly use the term “United Nations,” coined by Franklin D. Roosevelt, President of the United States, in 1942.
When the UN was officially created, the newly formed Department of Public Information (DPI) took over those same offices, issuing the first press releases and coordinating early global communications from Rockefeller Center.
We also learned that Wallace K. Harrison, part of the team that designed Rockefeller Center, later became Director of Planning for the UN Headquarters.
In 1947, he led the famous “Workshop for Peace” in the RKO Building, where 11 international architects sketched more than 50 proposals before agreeing on the design that would shape the UN’s global image.
Among the team was Belva J. Barnes, who stood out not only for her talent but also for her trailblazing role.
As the only woman in the closely knit group of young designers assisting in the project, she was helping shape the future of international diplomacy at a time when women were rarely invited into such rooms. Her presence added an important, often overlooked chapter to the story of how the UN Headquarters came to be.
After this historical overview, we enjoyed a VIP tour of Rockefeller Center by two knowledgeable tour guides. We heard stories behind some of its landmark buildings, admired the artwork throughout the complex, and took in the stunning rooftop garden views from the French Building.
What a memorable day! We returned home with full hearts, inspired by the UN’s early history and proud to work in such a remarkable, historic place.
Read also:
Many thanks to the Department of Operational Support's Archives and Records Management Section for their support and for providing information about the UN's historical sites.
