UNITED NATIONS

First Avenue (at 46th Street)
(212) 963-7713 

The United Nations is a pretty important thing. It stands to reason that the United Nations World Headquarters would be a pretty important place. As luck would have it, it’s located at First Avenue (at 46^th Street) here in good old NYC. So shine up your shoes and run a comb through your hair. You’re headed to the U.N.

The United Nations Headquarters is an eighteen acre area, part of which houses a hundred and eighty five member-inclusive complex. The flags of each participating country are displayed proudly upon poles outside, right along United Nations Plaza. The complex itself was designed by eleven architects, led by Wallace K. Harrison from the United States. Now, while you won’t be able to make key decisions such as where to "drop the Bomb" or when to "switch to Defcon 5," there’s still a fair amount of stuff to see and do.

Here’s a bit of history and background information, so you won’t be John Q. Clueless when you walk the hallowed halls:

There are six main organs of the United Nations, some of which you will be able to observe in action, and some you won’t, for security purposes of course. Bear in mind that much of what goes on in there is subject to change, so it is impossible to report on what exactly you will be allowed to witness at any particular time. Okay. The six parts of the U.N. are the Secretariat, Security Council, General Assembly, Economic and Social Council, Trusteeship Council, and International Court of Justice. Fancy, no? Here’s what they do.

The Secretariat does all the menial, day-to-day operations; translators, reporters, and the like. The Security Council, as you might expect, keeps the peace. The General Assembly votes on issues like the environment and race relations, the Economic and Social Council coordinates, um, economic and social well-being, the Trusteeship Council helps self-governing countries achieve independence, and the International Court of Justice serves delicious breakfasts at affordable prices. No, I’m kidding. That’s the International House of Pancakes that does that. The International Court of Justice punishes the bad guys, reviews complaints, and things of that nature. That’s all well and good, but let’s go and do something that you cannot do anywhere else in the world….buy stamps!

No, I’m serious. At the U.N mail room or gift shop, you are able to buy special, exclusive United Nations postage stamps, which I understand are quite collectible. They’re the perfect gift for that hard-to-shop-for aunt from Wisconsin.

For more information on the United Nations World Headquarters, call (212) 963-1234. Tours are offered daily from 9:15 to 4:45 from March to December and Monday through Friday from 9:15 to 4:45 during the rest of the year. (That sounds redundant, but basically there are no weekend tours during the rest of the year.) The complex is closed during major holidays. Tour prices are as follows: $5.50 for those over 59, $4.50 for students, $3.50 for students in first through eighth grade, and $7.50 for the rest of us. Please bear in mind that children under five are not admitted, so leave the little terrorist with a babysitter. For more tour-related information, dialing (212) 963-7713 should tell you what you need to know.