This bustling transport hub serves over 750,000 visitors, both commuters and tourists alike and is an absolutely must-see venue when visiting New York. Designed by the firms Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore, this magnificent building’s architectural style is a triumph, and it houses a large number of shops and restaurants.
You don’t need to be travelling anywhere by train to visit and enjoy this example of Beaux Arts design. The Main Concourse in the centre of the station is an imposing space that you will recognise from many Hollywood films, including “I am Legend”, “Men in Black” and the Hitchcock classic “North by Northwest”. The highlights include the lofty 38 metre-high ceilings, richly decorated with the zodiac constellations in gold leaf on a cerulean blue background. This design was conceived by the French artist Paul César Helleu in 1912, but one mystery remains unanswered. Why are the constellations backwards? Some believe it shows a reflected view of the sky taken from a Medieval manuscript, others maintain it was accidental.
The entire space is illuminated by six arched windows, each nearly 23 metres high, which sit just below the ceiling, allowing natural daylight to flood the marble floors and emphasise the building’s many features. Perhaps the most famous is the four-faced clock that stands on top of the information booth. Reputed to be valued at several million dollars, this opalescent glass and brass structure is the best-know meeting point in the city. If this appeals, view the clock on the façade of the station facing the 42nd Street. It boasts the largest example of Tiffany glass with a dial that is nearly 4 metres in diameter. The clock is surrounded by sculptures designed by the French sculptor Jules Coutan depicting Mercury with Hercules and Minerva. On its unveiling in 1914, this sculptural group was believed to be the largest in the world, standing 14.6 metres high.
Still, there’s no denying Grand Central Terminal’s importance in the transport network. It is currently the station with the largest number of platforms at 44, and has a total of 67 tracks serving them.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, head to the Grand Central Dining Concourse, which has 35 different restaurants, including the Oyster Bar & Restaurant, the oldest establishment in Grand Central Terminal.
Grand Central Terminal is located at East 42nd Street and Park Avenue, and as a major transport hub is easily reached by Subway, rail and bus.
