Section 14.I

An Introduction to New York City (NYC) Culture

New York City is the cultural center of the world.  Visitors from around the country and all over the world come here to enjoy the many different types of cultural amenities. The lifestyle of the people within the city is, itself, a culture form.  The energy, the bustle, the array of stores serving every income level and ethnic group, the mix of languages and newspapers, are all part of its living culture.

Skyscrapers that decorate NYC's skyline include sensational architectural feats such as the Chrysler Building, a 77-story commercial office tower that was briefly the tallest building in NYC until the Empire State Building was completed.  At 1,453 feet and 8 9/16 inches, the Empire State Building, a central commercial location with 102 floors, held the title of tallest building in NYC. However, in April 2012, the new One World Trade Center under construction - has surpassed the height of the Empire State Building to become New York City's tallest building. Upon completion, it will stand at 1,368 feet. An additional 408 foot antenna will sit on its roof, resulting in the "Freedom Tower" measuring 1,776 feet.

NYC is home to one of the most universal symbols of political freedom and democracy: the Statue of Liberty, located on 12-acre Liberty Island in New York Harbor, was a gift of international friendship from the people of France to the people of the United States in 1886.

NYC's indisputable status as the cultural capital of the world is based, in part, on the wealth of museums and art galleries that afford every visitor the opportunity to revel in a wide array of works from all over the world.  Within the five boroughs of NYC, there are over 170 museums including zoos and specialized public libraries, and over 1,000 art galleries.

NYC is a center of the performing arts with three theatrical categories, including Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions.  There are 40 theaters classified as "Broadway," 109 Off-Broadway and more than 400 Off-Off Broadway.  Because of the large number and disparity of Off-Off Broadway performance spaces, they are not listed in this compilation. 

The city also attracts top musical talents.  There are 29 opera companies, 57 dance companies and 39 orchestras within the five boroughs and hundreds of cabarets and nightclubs. 

The vast and diverse cultural and entertainment activities located in NYC have cast the city with an influential role in the presentation of historical and current art, music and cultural endeavors in the world.