Free rooftop tours open at Manhattan Municipal Building
Photos courtesy of NYC DCAS
The 36th-floor cupola of New York City’s historic David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building will open to the public for the first time next week. Mayor Zohran Mamdani and the Department of Citywide Administrative Services on Thursday opened reservations for the “Centre 360” experience, a free rooftop tour of the century-old Beaux-Arts government building at 1 Centre Street. The cupola offers 360-degree views nearly 600 feet above the city, with many iconic landmarks in full view. Originally intended to be accessible to the public when the building opened in 1914, the cupola has been off-limits for nearly 100 years. Tours begin June 11, with tickets becoming available on the first day of each month.
“Our Centre 360 experience has taken the historic cupola of the David N. Dinkins municipal building and created an experience for visitors that will not only deliver panoramic views of the five boroughs but showcase the city’s rich civic history,” DCAS Commissioner Yume Kitasei said.
“We are thrilled to officially open reservations for Centre 360 and welcome New Yorkers into this remarkable space for the very first time.”
Designed by William M. Kendall of McKim, Mead & White, the firm behind the old Penn Station and the Brooklyn Museum, the Municipal Building, as it was originally known, was constructed to serve the growing city after the five boroughs consolidated in 1898. Inspired by the City Beautiful movement calling for grand civic buildings, the structure’s design features a soaring classical exterior and Roman architecture, including the central arch inspired by the Arch of Constantine.
Designated an individual landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission in 1966, the building was the first in New York to incorporate a subway station at its base. The station entrance was modeled after the arched entrance of the Palazzo Farnese in Rome and features vaulted Guastavino tiles.
The “Civic Fame” statue, a gilded copper figure designed by Adolph A. Weinman, tops the building. The 25-foot-tall statue carries a shield bearing the New York City coat of arms, a branch of leaves, and a mural crown with five points symbolizing each borough. The city renamed the building the David N. Dinkins Manhattan Municipal Building in 2015 to honor the former mayor.
In February, the mayor announced the rooftop would open to the public following a $6 million restoration project to repair the cupola, install glass safety barriers, and restore the rotunda landing.
The Centre 360 tour will allow visitors to walk a full circle for 360-degree views. The city even launched a “landmark hunt” digital game where guests can try to find 10 iconic landmarks during their visit, from the Empire State Building and Brooklyn Bridge to the Woolworth Building and New York City Hall.
The new rooftop experience offers a free activity during the city’s very busy summer, from the World Cup at MetLife, the Knicks’ final run, and celebrations for the 250th anniversary of America this July 4.
“It shouldn’t cost a cent to take in the unbeatable views of the city we call home,” Mamdani said in a press release.
“After a $6 million restoration, we’re opening the doors of this iconic building and inviting New Yorkers and visitors to see the city from a new perspective. Just in time for a summer of soccer, we’re making one of New York’s breathtaking views available to everyone, for free.”
Tours will be restricted to five people. DCAS will lead eight viewing sessions Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more and reserve your free visit here.
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