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Over 750,000 people transit Grand Central Terminal – colloquially called Grand Central Station – daily. It’s a busy place, and typically, no one stops to consider the history of this world-famous train terminal or appreciate this New York City gem and its rich past.
On Walks Tours’ Official Tour of Grand Central Terminal, you’ll explore this 49-acre behemoth and get an exclusive look into its history, significance, and beauty. You’ll also hear how this iconic masterpiece has helped shape NYC for over a century.
The Station’s Colorful History
“The story of Grand Central Station is the story of New York City,” says our knowledgeable and personable tour guide, LizaBanks (yes, that’s her first name!).
It all begins with Cornelius Vanderbilt, a major railroad investor. In 1871, the magnate bought the land at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan and opened the Grand Central Depot.
It didn’t take too long before the Depot reached capacity, and it was subsequently reconstructed and renamed Grand Central Station. Steam engines plied the tracks until 1902, when a huge crash eventually banned them on the island of Manhattan.
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It was clear that changes needed to be made. Consequently, the entire building was torn down to build the current Grand Central Station. The architectural firms of Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore were chosen to design the new terminal.
It opened in 1913 to much acclaim, with electric trains replacing steam engines.
Today, it’s the largest train station in the world by the area occupied and a number of platforms – 44 with 67 tracks along them. The tracks are on two levels, below and above ground.
Architecture Takes Center Stage
Though its history is noteworthy, this Beaux-Arts-style building’s architectural wonders set it apart. These elements shine without sacrificing practicality or efficiency.
When you enter the Main Concourse, where the tour meets, you’re greeted with an awe-inducing sight. The ginormous barrel vault ceiling makes it feel as though the building soars into the skies, especially with the celestial mural painted across it.
Celestial Mural is a Wonder
The mural depicts a Mediterranean winter sky with 2,500 stars and constellations and was designed by French artist Paul César Helleu. When the ceiling was revealed to the New York public, people commented that the design was painted backward. East was West, and West was East.
Vanderbilt, who didn’t want to pay to repaint it, said it was painted from God’s perspective. According to an explanation plaque, it was painted to be seen from outside our solar system.
LizaBanks pointed out a tiny black spot in the corner of the ceiling and informed us that it was deliberately left untouched as a visible reminder.
Before its restoration in the 1990s, the ceiling was black due to the dirt and grime, mainly from cigarette smoke, accumulated over the years.
Arches and archways are prominently used within the station, from the majestic windows to the passageways lined with them. Some are adorned with classical murals and masterful tiling. It’s been said that if you get caught up in the station’s grandeur, you can lose track of time and miss your train.
Check Out the Famed Opal Clock
The Main Concourse is where you’ll find the famous opal clock, valued at over $20 million. This is the place when you need to meet someone at Grand Central. The acorn atop the clock symbolizes the Vanderbilts, and you’ll find other such motifs within the building.
Learn About the Secret Staircase
The information booth below the clock has a secret spiral staircase inside. The attendants can access and exit the area without letting the public see them. This escape route was created to avoid being hounded when they left the booth. Consider the fact that they are asked upwards of 1,000 questions a day.
Jackie O Saves the Station
In the Onassis Foyer, LizaBanks told us about the Committee to Save Grand Central Terminal and Jackie Kennedy Onassis’s role in this movement.
Though the station was designated a NYC Landmark in 1967, plans were put forth to add a massive tower on top of it.
This meant that though the Main Concourse would have been spared, the southern third of the terminal would have been destroyed to make way for other purposes. This plan drew huge opposition from the public and architects.
Jackie Kennedy Onassis was one of the prominent critics. She worked tirelessly to save Grand Central Station from demolition. The legal case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in favor of saving the terminal in 1978. A commemorative plaque in the foyer acknowledges Jackie’s efforts.
The foyer is adjacent to Vanderbilt Hall, which used to be the station’s main waiting room and is now a temporary exhibit and event space. One wooden bench remains, signifying its past purpose.
More Artistic Elements Adorn the Exterior
LizaBanks led us outside to gaze at the building’s exterior elements, including the Tiffany Clock and the statues surrounding it. The clock face is the largest Tiffany glass (14 feet) in the world and the most expensive.
The statues depict the Greek gods Mercury, Hercules, and Minerva, representing speed, strength, and intellect.
She also pointed out the cast iron eagle perched on one corner of the building. It’s one of twelve that graced the roof of the original station in 1898. At the time, the eagle was recognized as a symbol of patriotism and represented the country’s growth.
The eagles were distributed and/or sold to different private estates and institutions when Grand Central Terminal was rebuilt. Over the years, many of the birds were lost.
In 1995, a couple from the Bronx found one in the backyard of their newly bought house. They donated the sculpture back to Grand Central Station, where it proudly perches above one of the entrances.
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which owns the terminal, rescued another eagle from a NY monastery in 2001. It was subsequently installed above another entrance.
LizaBanks also pointed out the replicas of subway tokens and Broadway lights on the station marquee. More nods to the Big Apple!
The Campbell’s Past is Legendary
Back inside the terminal, via a nondescript entrance, is the Campbell Apartment, now The Campbell, a speakeasy-style bar and lounge.
The bar pays homage to the legacy of John Campbell, a wealthy financier who converted the space (to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars) to his private office and reception area in 1923.
The 13th-century Florentine-inspired design features a soaring, 25-foot hand-painted ceiling, a large stone fireplace, Campbell’s steel safe, a leaded glass window, and more retro details.
Though never his residence, Campbell used the place as a musical recital hall to entertain dozens of evening guests. His parties were legendary; an invite meant you had assuredly “arrived” in society.
After Campbell’s death, the place was used for various purposes, including a jail. It was restored in the 1990s, and today, it’s a swanky and classy spot with a Jazz Age ambiance.
Not many people who pass through Grand Central know it’s there, which gives it that exclusive club vibe for those who do.
Pescatarians Love the Oyster Bar
The Grand Central Station Oyster Bar & Restaurant is on the terminal’s lower level. Opened in 1913, it’s the oldest restaurant in the station and is known for having one of the city’s largest and freshest seafood menus. Oysters are celebrated here, and two billion crustaceans are shucked yearly!
Design-wise, the Oyster Bar’s arched ceiling is a marvel. Even more importantly, the arches were laid with fireproof tiles that would save the restaurant from total collapse in 1997.
As a fire raged through the restaurant, the tiles protected the arched structure and, consequently, the rest of the terminal.
Whisper, and You’ll be Heard
Nearby, in another elegant arched area, is the Whispering Gallery, where a pair of individuals can stand on opposite ends of the gallery and hear what the other person is saying. This place became popular with tourists once they realized its “magic.”
The effect is not a secret, though, as it’s one that’s commonly created by this elliptical style of arches. They carry the sound of the room from one end to another. They can travel easily without carpeting or vents to absorb the sound waves. We had to test it, of course!
Grand Central Madison: A Contemporary Complement
The tour also includes visiting the newest section of the terminal, Grand Central Madison. This building opened in 2023 and serves as the Long Island RR’s eastside terminus. At 11.5 billion dollars, it’s an impressive engineering feat that involved transforming a former train storage yard into a 350,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art terminal.
The new station lies deep beneath Grand Central Station—seventeen stories to be exact. It boasts fourteen additional tracks and the second-longest escalator in the country.
Also notable are the spacious corridors and engaging art, including glass mosaics, digital artwork and poetry, and a rotating photography lightbox exhibition.
If you’re hungry after your tour, make a beeline for Grand Central Market. Home to sixty seafood varieties and 400 types of cheese, not to mention all the other mouth-watering offerings, you’re guaranteed to find something tasty to eat.
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