United Nations Visitors Centre

In spring 1955, the cherry trees gifted to the United Nations by Mrs. Mary Woodard Lasker and schoolchildren in memory of Albert Davis Lasker bloomed along the north garden of the Headquarters 🌸

Captured here beside the flowering trees is a UN tour guide, photographed as the young gardens around the newly established Headquarters began taking shape.

Today, these iconic cherry trees continue to welcome visitors from around the world to the UN gardens in 🗽, a space where history, diplomacy, art, and nature meet.

Join a Garden Tour to stroll among the cherry trees and rose gardens, discover sculptures and memorials across the grounds, see a segment of the Berlin Wall, and learn about remarkable individuals who helped shape the history of the United Nations.

Book your visit 👉 un.org/visit

Eid Mubarak!

May we all draw inspiration from the values of empathy, charity and compassion that are celebrated during Eid al-Adha.

Through first-hand testimonies, the Hibakusha share the human cost of nuclear weapons and their lifelong advocacy for peace. Visit the new exhibition at UN Headquarters and reflect on 80 years of resilience and action.

On view until 1 June 2026

Plan your visit 👉 un.org/visit

As the world works to restore its relationship with nature, one truth becomes increasingly clear: global change begins with local action.

This year’s International Day for Biological Diversity reminds us that protecting ecosystems is not only about distant rainforests or endangered species across the globe, it also begins in the spaces around us, including the natural habitats thriving within our own communities.

At the United Nations Headquarters, biodiversity is quietly woven into the landscape, from migratory birds resting along the East River to trees and gardens supporting urban wildlife, offering a small but meaningful refuge in the heart of . 🦆🌸🌱

Discover some of the biodiversity in our own backyard at 🇺🇳

Learn more about the International Day for Biological Diversity 👉 https://bit.ly/2ZuzHIv

Book our special Garden Tour 👉 un.org/visit



📷: United Nations Visitors Centre

New York University students are taking a course on the sustainable management of real estate projects through Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. These standards help evaluate how organizations consider people 👵🏻👨🏾👩👶🏻 and the planet 🌎 in development and decision-making.

The students visited the United Nations Headquarters with Professor Tayeb. After a tour of led by tour guide Yuta ( 🇯🇵), the group met with a UN-HABITAT expert to discuss Sustainable Development Goal 11 ( 11): making cities and human settlements 🏙️ inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable.

According to UN-Habitat, 2.8 billion people worldwide still experience some form of housing inadequacy, including 1.1 billion living in slums or informal settlements without basic services.
One student asked, “What are the building blocks of a city?”

The expert replied, “When you study the history of human settlements, you often find that they developed around natural resources, most commonly water 💧, a resource that must be managed sustainably.”

He added, “Member States submit Voluntary National Reviews on progress toward the , and discussions continue around access to and sharing of technology between countries.”

The briefing also explored topics such as 🤖, culture, urban identity, and sustainability.

If your students are imagining the city of tomorrow and would like to exchange ideas with global experts 👉 un.org/visit

At United Nations Headquarters, cultural diversity is experienced every day through the voices, languages, and perspectives shared by our tour guides from around the world 🌍.

On World Day for Cultural Diversity for Dialogue and Development, we celebrate the cultures that help foster dialogue, mutual understanding, and international cooperation within the United Nations.
This day is a reminder that intercultural dialogue and cultural diversity remain essential to building peace and sustainable development.

Today, we celebrate the people who bring that spirit to life every day at 🇺🇳



📷: United Nations Visitors Centre

At the United Nations Headquarters, World Bee Day was marked through art, performance, and dialogue highlighting the connection between people, pollinators, biodiversity, and a more sustainable future.

Visitors gathered in the General Assembly Lobby for the opening of Animals for Social Justice, an art exhibit curated by Alessandra Mattanza and endorsed by the Permanent Mission of Italy to the United Nations - New York. Through digital art, dance, and live painting, the event explored themes of ecosystem health, sustainability, urban living, and innovation for good.

The program featured performances by Analia Farfan and the International American Ballet, inspired by the artwork displayed throughout the exhibit, as well as a live painting session by artist KANYE (Kan Yeyachukwu Tagbo-Okeke).

The event also reflected the spirit of this year’s World Bee Day theme, “Bee together for people and the planet,” reminding us of the essential role pollinators play in supporting healthy ecosystems and global food security.

At , even in the heart of , initiatives such as the beehives featured on our Garden Tour serve as a reminder of the importance of protecting biodiversity and creating sustainable urban green spaces.

Learn more about World Bee Day 👉 https://www.un.org/en/observances/bee-day

Book a visit 👉 https://www.un.org/visit



📷: United Nations Visitors Centre

At the United Nations Headquarters, even the smallest inhabitants play an important role in supporting a healthier and more sustainable planet.

For World Bee Day 🐝, we are highlighting the beehives located within the gardens of 🇺🇳, featured as part of our Garden Tour and serving as a reminder of the essential relationship between people, pollinators, and the environment.

This year’s theme, “Bee together for people and the planet,” reflects a partnership that has sustained communities, ecosystems, and food systems for thousands of years. From traditional beekeeping practices to modern sustainable approaches, bees continue to play a vital role in biodiversity, agriculture, and global food security.

At , our gardens offer a small but meaningful example of how urban green spaces can help support pollinators and biodiversity in the heart of .

Learn more about World Bee Day 👉 un.org/en/observances/bee-day

Book the Garden Tour 👉 un.org/visit



📷: United Nations Visitors Centre

“Did you know that millions of people worldwide have been forcibly displaced by conflict and persecution? Many of them are children,” said an expert from the Office of the UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency to Mrs. Mastorakis and her students connecting online from Bronx Legacy High School.

The educator, who teaches English as a New Language, joined her multilingual and immigrant students in their sunlit classroom decorated with colorful flags representing different countries.
The briefing continued: “Refugees flee conflict, often women and children. Conflicts are lasting longer, sometimes 10, 20 years or more, and refugees often need to rebuild their lives in new communities. In emergencies, provides sanitation, shelter, and food assistance while working closely with partners. Education is also a right and can help open doors to the future.”

A student asked, “Could you share a story that stood out to you?”

Without hesitation, the expert replied, “The Swimmers, the film is available on Netflix.”
The discussion turned to the story of two young sisters from Syria who fled conflict and undertook a dangerous journey toward Greece. When their overcrowded inflatable boat began sinking, the sisters, both trained swimmers, entered the water with two other passengers and helped guide the boat safely to shore after swimming for three and a half hours.

The expert concluded by reminding the students, “Refugees contribute significantly to the communities where they settle.”

The discussion left a strong impression on the students.

Join our briefings to learn more about humanitarian work and the human stories behind global challenges 👉 un.org/visit

Few places in the world bring together , , , and masterworks of international quite like the United Nations Headquarters.

for a rare journey through one of the world’s most remarkable yet often overlooked international art collections, a living archive of cultural diplomacy gifted by nations, foundations, and artists from around the globe since 1950.

From the dreamlike vision of Marc Chagall to the monumental works of Candido Portinari, Barbara Hepworth, Henry Moore, and Arnaldo Pomodoro, the UN Art Tour reveals how art has long served as a universal language inside the institution where the world gathers.

Beyond the artworks themselves, this experience offers access to some of the most iconic chambers in international diplomacy: the Security Council, the General Assembly Hall, the Economic and Social Council Chamber, and the Trusteeship Council Chamber (meetings permitting).

The UN Art Tour is offered every other Thursday at 1:15 PM and is also available upon request by sending an email to [email protected]