Welcome To New York’s Train Palace!

This is the iconic Grand Central Station, where trains and subways bring people in and out of the city all day every day…it’s an incredible palace that was almost torn down!

Let’s take a look at what it’s like to enter the main ticket concourse:

It is truly stunning, the vibrant green ceiling filled with colorful design – here is another video that captures this incredible ceiling above you:

Note the windows on the upper left – and imagine them without a skyscraper outside…they would look like this:

Yes, this vintage photo shows the morning sun pouring through those windows, because for years they were not blocked by one of the city’s many skyscrapers…it was this photo, which I came across online, that made me want to share some of this buildings history and beauty!

Here is what it’s like to enter the terminal from the main concourse…

It’s truly spectacular every time! There is an official website that offers so much great information about this incredible, multi-block long building – both above and below ground!

Although construction was not yet entirely complete, Grand Central Terminal officially opened to great fanfare at 12:01am on Sunday, February 2, 1913. More than 150,000 visited on opening day!

The architecture and design inside is incredible. On August 2, 1967, NYC’s Landmarks Preservation Commission designated Grand Central Terminal as a landmark, subject to the protection of the law.

But when the city went into economic decline, the future of the building was in doubt:

When the city teetered toward bankruptcy, there was an effort to tear the building down to build a skyscraper…but one very powerful person fronted an effort that saved the terminal!

 Jackie Onassis Saves The Day!

Plans were underway to sell the building, tear it down, and replace it with an office building, but former First Lady Jackie Onassis took on the developers and got the city to act!

As the website’s history says: “City leaders including Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Brendan Gill rallied against changes and in December 1976, the national register of historic places named Grand Central Terminal a national historic landmark.”​

There is a cool information kiosk in the center of the main terminal, and the tracks surround it – easy to see what train it is, and even easier to board and be on your way…

It’s fun just to wander around the massive building, because there are so many shops and stores to browse, like this Apple Store that overlooks the terminal:

If you are hungry, there is a huge French restaurant overlooking the terminal, as well as food store – and a large food court downstairs:

That includes the legendary Grand Central Oyster Bar…look at the curved ceiling above! You can see my review of the restaurant here!

I hope you enjoyed this look at an iconic piece of architecture in New York…speaking of iconic:

The Brooklyn Bridge was an unprecedented scientific marvel – here’s that story, plus a look at how you can walk across it any day of the week!

Speaking of architecture, what about this latest trend in New York: the “skinny-scraper!

New technology has allowed these skinny skyscrapers to flourish – find out how here:

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Categories: Art, Exotic Travel, Memoirs, New York, Pop Culture, Real Estate, Technology, Travel, Travel Adventures, Travel Memoir

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