13.I

New York City is the cultural center of the world.  Visitors from around the country and all over the world come here either primarily to enjoy the cultural amenities or to do so secondarily as an adjunct to their primary purpose.

The lifestyle of the people within the city is, itself, a culture form.  The energy, the bustle, the array of stores which serve all income levels and ethnic groups, the mix of languages and newspapers, are all part of the living culture.

Skyscrapers that decorate New York City's skyline include sensational architectural feats such as the Chrysler Building, a 77-story commercial office tower that was briefly the tallest building in New York City 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, stands as the tallest building in New York City.

New York City 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.

New York City'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 New York City, there are over 170 museums including zoos and specialized public libraries, and over 1,000 art galleries.

The City is a center of the performing arts with three theatrical categories, including Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off Broadway productions.  There are 39 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, 58 dance companies and 40 orchestras within the five boroughs and hundreds of cabarets and nightclubs. 

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