SThe UN headquarters can be seen from afar: the flags of all member countries are waving in front of the building on New York’s 1st Avenue – starting with Afghanistan on 48th Street and ending with Zimbabwe on 42nd Street. The United Nations, an association of 193 countries, has its permanent headquarters here. Few Manhattan visitors know that you can tour the impressive complex at the United Nations Plaza.
A large sculpture in the shape of a globe draws attention to itself. Built in 1949 on the site of a former slaughterhouse, the complex is not located on US soil, but is considered international territory due to its special political importance. In the lobby of the visitor center – within the headquarters – changing exhibitions on current topics of the United Nations can be visited free of charge.
The flags of all member countries are flying in front of the UN headquarters
Quelle: Universal Images Group via Getty Images/Jeff Greenberg
If you want to feel the aura of international politics up close, you should book one of the guided, one-hour tours through the interior. Visitors see the large hall of the UN General Assembly, the hall of the Security Council and many works of art from all member countries – truly impressive.
The United Nations have their own postage stamps
At the same time, the guides provide a lot of political background information on the role of the United Nations and its goals, for example in security policy, human rights issues and environmental policy, as well as on the tasks of the UN soldiers known as “blue helmets”. In addition to the regular tour, special tours for children between the ages of five and ten are also offered (if they are not exposed due to Corona).
The entrance hall of the UN Headquarters
Which: pa/Daniel Kalker
A visit to the garden, which is possible every year in the summer months, is particularly worthwhile for Germans: Here the visitor is presented with an original piece of the Berlin Wall as a reminder, but also a reminder that gives hope. In 2001, the wall element was a gift from the city of Berlin to Kofi Annan, the then Secretary General of the United Nations.
On guided tours of the building, visitors can also see the great hall of the UN General Assembly
Which: pa/Daniel Kalker
And it’s not just stamp collectors who are happy about a special souvenir from the UN site: since the site is considered extraterritorial territory, the world organization issues its own stamps and runs its own post office. The United Nations is the only non-governmental organization in the world authorized to circulate postage stamps.
Sending a postcard with a UN stamp is such a unique memory that some visitors may want to send themselves a postcard. But be careful: Mail with UN stamps can actually only be posted in the UN’s own post offices in New York, Geneva and Vienna.
Dining at the UN Headquarters in New York
In the United Nations Bookshop, which is also located in the visitor center, there are books and gifts with the well-known logo. Incidentally, the United Nations is an excellent place to have lunch: The United Nations’ Delegates Dining Room with a wonderful view of the East River, Long Island City and Roosevelt Island is an insider tip even among New Yorkers!
Also worth seeing is a concert by the United Nations Singers, the United Nations Choir. It has a history of more than 70 years, the singers are current or former employees of the United Nations from all over the world. They emphasize this by mostly appearing in clothing that is typical of their nation and culture.
With the music – the repertoire ranges from folk music in the original language to classical to modern songs – they convey their message and their vision of a world in which all people are united in peace. Tip: In the days leading up to Christmas, the choir in the lobby of the UN headquarters also sings international Christmas carols.
The guides show visitors artworks in the building and provide background information on the role of the United Nations
Quelle: picture alliance/Xinhua News Agency/Ma Jianguo
Tips and information:
Lage: United Nations Plaza, 46th Street/1st Avenue, New York.
Directions: Take the subway (Lines 4, 5, 6, and 7) to Grand Central Terminal, then walk (10 minutes) down 42nd Street toward East River to 1st Avenue.
Opening hours: The visitor center with its interesting exhibitions is open on weekdays (except for individual public holidays) between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., unless important events are taking place; un.org/visit
Tours: The guided, fee-based tours are also only offered Monday to Friday; un.org/en/visit/tour. Important: Registration with passport or ID card is required on the opposite side of the street from the headquarters before entering the premises (at least 60 minutes before the start of a tour). There is a security check inside.
Bookshop: The United Nations Bookshop is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Saturday and Sunday only from 10 a.m.); shop.un.org/about-0#visit_the_bookshop
post office: The post office (United Nations Postal Administration) sells the UN’s own stamps and other souvenirs from Monday to Friday from 9 am to 5 pm; unstamps.org
Cost: The hour-long tours cost $22 for adults, $15 for students and seniors, and $12 for children (ages 5 to 12). The three-course lunch menu in the United Nations’ Delegates Dining Room is served for $49.99 per person; delegatesdiningroom-un.com/restaurant (reservations are currently not possible due to the pandemic).
The text is an excerpt from the recently published book “New York, 50 tips off the beaten path” by Christian Dose and Carolin Gerstenmaier, Verlag 360grad-medien.de, 288 pages, 16.95 euros
Source: Verlag 360grad-medien.de