How One Man's Vision Transformed City, Region

It was the right time. It was the right place. And he was the right man.
He was a man with a vision. He dreamed big dreams and he knew how to make them happen.
And when he became Governor and arrived at what was a largely sleepy, out-of-the-way state capital he foresaw a transformation that would forever change the city and the region.
The man was Nelson A. Rockefeller, Governor of New York from 1959 through 1973.
The Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller Empire State Plaza is the result.
It's a unique architectural masterpiece which houses 11,000 New York employees in a complex of ten buildings. The Plaza offers a world-class modern art collection, New York State's Museum, Library and Archives, a distinctive performing arts center (The Egg), a convention center and more. It serves as a monument to the diversity and significance of New York, and also as a testament to Governor Rockefeller, whose determination and foresight brought about its creation.
Art historians have called the Empire State Plaza Art Collection “the greatest collection of modern American art in any single public site that is not a museum.”
The Collection was formed under the direction of Governor Rockefeller during construction of the Empire State Plaza (1966–1978). Ninety-two works of Abstract Expressionist art are on permanent display throughout the Plaza.
We visited the New York State Capitol Building recently and marveled at its majesty  as we looked out over the Empire State Plaza which frames the ornate Capitol Building much like the national mall in Washington. It is a grand and inspiring public place that is amply worthy of your time and attention.
Photos copyright 2011 by Dan Cirucci.