The Riverside Church invites the public to step inside the tallest steeple in North America and see New York City like never before with a Steeple Tour!
During this tour, visitors will experience the beauty and history of Riverside Church including the Nave sanctuary and outdoor penthouse gallery at the top of the tower, offering a 360 degree view of the city.
Opened in 1930 and modeled after the 13th Century gothic cathedral in Chartres, France, The Riverside Church overlooks the Hudson River, Grant’s Tomb, Columbia University, and West Harlem. As the tallest church tower in the United States, Riverside features spectacular 360-degree views and the 74-bell Laura Spelman Rockefeller Memorial Carillon, with the largest tuned bell in the world at 20-tons. In contrast, the smallest bell weighs a mere 10 pounds.
Inside the Nave worship sanctuary, the strivings and aspirations of humanity, both religious and secular, shine through carvings, engravings, stained glass, and other iconography. Our pulpit has long been a forum for important civic and spiritual leaders, including Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Nelson Mandela, President Clinton, the Dalai Lama, and countless others.
While the in-person Tours below have been paused due to COVID, Riverside Church now offers a Virtual Bell Tower Tour! Click Here for Info.
Tower Tours are $25 per person, $20 for seniors and students. Tours are scheduled at 1:00pm, Wednesday through Saturday. The Riverside Church is located at 490 Riverside Drive between 120/122 Streets, NYC.
Did you know that the second largest carillon is in the tower of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church on Lenox Avenue in Harlem ~ and is currently being restored.
Did you know you can now climb to the top of the historic Harlem Fire Watchtower? Yes, Urban Park Rangers will be on hand on the third Sunday of every month from Noon to 3pm beginning December 22, 2019.