These were among the surprising results of the semi-annual "New York Pass or Fail Survey"--a poll of New Yorkers about New York--gauging how much city dwellers know--or don't know--about their city and its attractions. The scientific poll was sponsored by The New York Pass, New York City's leading attraction discount card. (a link to the full survey is below.)
According to the New York Pass or Fail Survey results:
• The Statue of Liberty is the place most New Yorkers would recommend as a destination to New York City visitors (39%), followed by the Empire State Building (24%), and the American Museum of Natural History (19%);
• Only 18% of New Yorkers know that the seven points on Lady Liberty's crown represent the Seven Seas and Seven Continents (12% thought it was the first seven colonies.);
• Just over a quarter of New Yorkers know that the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the American Museum of Natural History sit across Central Park from each other;
• Only 17% of New Yorkers know the Bronx is home to the last remaining section of original forest in New York (at New York Botanical Gardens);
• Only 41% know that Historic Richmond Town is on Staten Island;
• 45% of New Yorkers know that the Queens Museum of Art is the only remaining building from the 1939 World's Fair (all other choices were in other boroughs);
• An astonishing 100% of respondents age 55-64, and 80% overall, knew that Santa Claus worked at Macy's;
• A staggering 89% of New Yorkers didn't know that the Origami Holiday Tree kicks off the holiday season every year--for more than 30 years--at the American Museum of Natural History; and
• A full 41% of New Yorkers surveyed think Top-of-the-Rock is on top of the Empire State Building. (Only 16% answered correctly that Top of the Rock is located on in the General Electric Building.)
"New Yorkers can tell you ten ways to get to The Guggenheim, but truth be told, many of us have never actually been there," said New York Pass Vice President Ken Barrows. "In many cases, our tourists seem to know more about our city than we do. The New York Pass or Fail Survey is meant to remind New Yorkers about the wonders we pass hurriedly by every day without ever exploring."
"Getting to know our city better is a perfect New Year's resolution for New Yorkers," said New York Pass spokesperson Cristyne Nicholas, the former President and CEO of NYC & Company. "Almost 50 million visitors come to New York each year to experience our world-class cultural gems, but as New Yorkers we too often take these attractions for granted. The New York Pass or Fail Survey will hopefully prompt New Yorkers to take better advantage of what our city has to offer this coming year."
The $75 New York Pass day pass ($55 for children) gets holders into the city's top attractions all across New York City for a single price, many with exclusive "fast-track" entry privileges, allowing card holders to whiz past long holiday lines. Attractions include: Top of the Rock; The Met; The Guggenheim; The Whitney; The Museum of Natural History; the Museum of Sex; the Museum of Television and Radio; Bodies...the Exhibition, and MOMA. Behind-the-scenes tours at Madison Square Garden; NBC studios; Lincoln Center, and Carnegie Hall. Free entry to zoos, aquariums, parks and gardens, and places of interest like Madam Tussaud's; The Empire State Building Observation Deck; New York Skyride, the Statue of Liberty and the Ellis Island ferry. The New York Pass also includes shopping discounts at stores like Macy's and Bloomingdale's-it even includes discounts on New York City helicopter rides!
New York Pass also offers two-day passes, $110 for adults, $90 for children; three-day passes, $140 for adults, $120 for children; and seven-day passes, $180 for adults and $140 for children. For more information, please visit www.newyorkpass.com.
The New York Pass or Fail Survey was conducted in December by the Polling company, inc./WomanTrend. It surveyed 300 New York City adult residents (aged 18+). The margin of error is calculated at +/- 5.7%.
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THE FULL NEW YORK PASS OR FAIL SURVEY CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE:
http://www.scribd.com/doc/24617868/New-York-Pass-Telephone-Survey-of-New-York-City-Residents-Report-and-Analysis-Final-to-Client