The Beam, the new attraction in New York City

In recent years, New York City has undergone a notable transformation with the construction of various skyscrapers featuring observation decks offering impressive views of the city. Among them, The Summit stands out, located at the top of One Vanderbilt. This observatory seeks to go beyond the traditional conception of observation platforms, proposing a unique experience with its room covered in mirrors that reflect the silhouette of Manhattan from unprecedented angles.

To stay at the forefront, the Rockefeller Center, located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues, has launched The Beam, a recent attraction that is causing a sensation on social media. It offers visitors the opportunity to recreate one of the most iconic photos of the 20th century taken by the New York Herald Tribune in 1932.

The famous photograph depicts eleven construction workers leisurely sitting on a beam suspended in the void during their lunch break. The image, titled ‘Lunch Atop a Skyscraper,’ was captured on September 20, 1932, just half a year before the opening of the Rockefeller Center. This iconic portrait encapsulates an era of the culmination of the world’s tallest skyscrapers and reflects the hard work of labor from Northern Europe.

Indeed, in the photograph, the workers can be seen having lunch without any safety measures. Through this image, the aim was to depict the real working conditions in the United States after the Great Depression. While the shot involved some risk, it was not as perilous as it might be thought, as a few meters below, there was a finished floor. However, the result of the image overwhelmingly achieved its author’s goal.

It is often erroneously attributed to the construction of the Empire State Building, but the photo was taken on the 69th floor of what was then called the RCA Building, now nicknamed 30 Rock.

Opened in early December of this year, The Beam defies the fear of heights with a metal structure that rises and positions visitors at the edge of the skyscraper. Unlike what can be seen in the original photo, here people do have safety belts, and similarly, the support is positioned in the center of the rooftop, which is protected by anti-fall glass along the edges.

Those interested in reliving this historic moment sit on a replica of the original nine-meter-long steel beam, located on the same floor and at the same height. The structure rises approximately 3.5 meters above the observation platform. After a 180-degree turn, it places the brave ones at the exact point where the protagonists of the iconic photograph appeared. From this elevated position, the views of Central Park and Manhattan are spectacular, albeit noticeably different from those enjoyed 91 years ago.

This experience, which has created a genuine sensation among tourists and residents of New York, is one of the standout novelties within the renovation project of the Rockefeller Center. This project aims to enhance the visit by offering new attractions that allow discovering details and unexplored corners of one of the city’s most iconic buildings. The entrance to The Beam costs $25, in addition to the $40 to $50 entry fee for the Top of the Rock, the impressive viewpoint that offers the best panoramas of the city. From this place, it is possible to identify the most famous structures, with the Empire State being the main protagonist. On a clear day, the human eye can discern shapes on the horizon up to 128 kilometers.

It is important to note that, so far, the availability of the attraction has only been announced until January 31, 2024. It is unclear whether it will be available again for visitors after that date. Therefore, those who have the opportunity and are interested in experiencing this should not miss this opportunity.

Another eagerly awaited novelty that will be introduced in the coming months is known as Sky Lift. It consists of a circular glass platform on the 70th floor, which will lift visitors above the rooftop, providing even more impressive views with a complete 360º panorama.

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