At Civic Center, NYC: Free Centre 360 Cupola Tours Open the Dinkins Municipal Building's Tower

The cupola of the David N Dinkins Municipal Building at 1 Centre Street, in Lower Manhattan's Civic Center, is open to the public for the first time since 1914 The city runs the visit as Centre 360, a free, reservation-based experience The grand opening was June 11. Here is how a visit works You enter through the CityStore on Centre Street, show photo ID to building security and check in After a short welcome, an elevator takes the group to the 24th floor, where you transfer to the tower elevator up to the cupola You then step onto the balcony directly beneath the gilded statue Civic Fame and can walk a full circle The experience lasts about 15 minutes including the ascent, and each departure takes eight visitors Reservations are free, and a party can have up to five people. The views run in four directions To the north are Midtown and the Empire State Building To the east are the East River and the Brooklyn and Manhattan Bridges To the south are the harbor and bay To the west are the courthouses, City Hall and the Hudson One World Trade Center and the Woolworth Building are also on the list of sights A phone-based Landmark Hunt game is available on the balcony. The building was designed by McKim, Mead and White in the Beaux Arts style to house 40 city agencies under one roof It was the first U.S government building built directly over a working subway line Civic Fame, sculpted by Adolph Weinman and installed in 1914, stands about 25 feet tall and holds a five-pointed crown for the five boroughs. Visits run Monday through Friday, 9 a.m to 5 p.m., departing hourly on the hour The tower is closed on weekends Bring a photo ID and wear closed-toe shoes Children must be under adult supervision and at least 42 inches tall Cameras and phones are welcome, but tripods and drones are not Access depends on the weather The 4, 5, 6, J and Z trains stop at Brooklyn Bridge, and the R and W stop at City Hall.