This 18-acre site is located in the Turtle Bay section on the East Side of Manhattan, on spacious grounds overlooking the East River. Constructed in 1949 and 1950 on land purchased by an $8.5 million dollar donation from John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Manhattan was not the first choice for the United Nations, winning out over San Francisco, Flushing Meadows, Corona Park in Queens and even the Black Hills of South Dakota. Navy Island, near Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, was also a serious contender, as it lay on the boundary of two peaceful countries. An international team of eleven architects designed The United Nations complex, headed by Wallace K. Harrison of the United States.
Not only is the United Nations an international zone belonging to all Member States, it also has its own security force, fire department and postal administration! The Headquarters consists of four main buildings: The General Assembly building, the Dag Hammarskjöld Library (added in 1961), the Secretariat building (the 39-floor office tower) and the Conference building. The UN complex is also notable for its garden and outdoor sculpture.
Guided tours, executed by an international staff, operate daily from the General Assembly public lobby. The tours explain the nature of the work done at the United Nations and feature art and other interesting objects that have been donated to the UN by Member States.
The United Nations has a unique postal section where visitors can buy UN stamps and there is also a UN bookstore, several gift shops and a coffee shop. The site has an extraterritoriality status, much like embassies do. In some cases, UN rules override those of regular law enforcement, but they do not grant immunity to any crimes that take place there. Some members have diplomatic immunity, and as such, cannot be prosecuted by local courts unless the Secretary-General first waives the immunity.
Come and see this special tribute to world harmony and peace the next time you visit New York City. There is nothing like it anywhere in the world!