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As part of the 60th anniversary celebration of the United Nations, the international organization is giving free tours on Sundays this month. Gothamist went to the UN this past Sunday for a tour which lasted all of 30 minutes. During the tour, which seems to be English only (the regular tour costs $11.50 for adults and is in multiple languages), the guides point out several murals and gifts to the UN and visitors are shown the Security Council (pictured above), the Trusteeship Council, and the General Assembly.
The United Nations hopes that New Yorkers, especially, will take advantage of the tour (it is air conditioned, after all). The remaining dates for the free tour are June 19th and 26th, with the 26th being the actual anniversary of the Charter signing. Tours hours are from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the visitor's entrance is at 1st Ave. and 46th St.
More pictures of the United Nations at Tien's site, the Emporis listing on the Le Corbusier designed Secretariat Building, New Yorkology on dining at the Delegates' Dining Room (great place to view July 4th fireworks not that the public can), and if you can't make it, the UN has a virtual tour.
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Good Idea!!!
:)
Never again. The last time I took the tour, it was ridiculously rushed. The guide claimed we'd be allowed a couple of minutes at each stop to take photos. But I'd barely get a camera up before she had us on the move again. I don't know how Tien got those nice shots. Not to mention the UN Garden is closed to the public for the foreseeable future. Can't walk around there anymore the way I did on a class trip so many decades ago.
The Delegate's Dining Room sounds like a much better idea. It barely costs more than a tour and you get a good lunch, to boot. I'll have to give that a try.
captain, we didn't seem too rushed. i think there were 20 people on the tour and the guide said "i'll give you some time to take pictures" at each stop on the tour. well, most of the stops. we just did a quick walk through of the Trusteeship Council. at a few of the stops, people even had time to pose for several pictures.
The Delegate's Dining Room is really good. I interned for an NGO at the U.N. last year and ate there frequently. They have many options for vegetarians as well, and a really good salad bar. And sitting next to the windows is fantastic.
One note: cash only. They don't take credit cards.
As for the tours, picture-taking is not allowed during some meetings, so if you went to, say, the Trusteeship Council room and there was a meeting going on that couldn't be photographed, that might be one reason why they rushed you through. On the other hand, most of the guides I've met wouldn't have been pissed if you asked, hey, can we wait one more minute while I take a picture?
Another note: the lobby of the U.N. (which houses Sputnik, changing exhibits, and a mural outside the chapel) as well as the basement (gift shops, book store, cafe) are all free to the public at any time.
The summer of 2001 we took another tour of the U.N. I had last gone in 1994 and before that, in grade school. The '01 tour lasted about two hours. It was great.
I'm sold on the dining room. The only question I have is "Is it all you can eat?" Newyorkology wasn't sure. Granted, I don't really want to make a pig of myself in front of delegates, but hey, for $25 plus beverage and tip, I do want to get my money's worth.