Grand Central Station Version 2

The iconic railway station at the intersection of Park Avenue and 42^nd Street is one of New York City’s most famous landmarks. The building is frequented by more than 750,000 travelers per day. But transporting people is not the only thing Grand Central Terminal has to offer. Visitors can choose from 60 shops, 35 dining places, and numerous cultural events that are offered under the roof of the historic building.[1]

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis once said “Grand Central Terminal stands as a universal symbol between New York City’s past and present.”[2] In fact, the building has an eventful history. The first version of the world-famous railroad station was built by Cornelius Vanderbilt and opened in 1871 as “Grand Central Depot.”[3] Vanderbilt, a railroad and shipping tycoon of his time, improved the efficiency of the railroad industry by connecting the services of the Hudson, New Haven, and Harlem Railroads. The three railroad companies were represented by the three towers of the building.[4]

However, by the turn of the century, New York City had changed so much that a new station was needed. Technical progress and an increasing amount of traffic required a bigger and more modern building. Moreover, as 42^nd Street had grown into a central place of the city, the old architecture of Grand Central Depot did not represent that newly gained importance.[5] On top of these developments, a deadly train accident demonstrated how urgently new technology was needed. In 1902, 15 passengers died in a train accident because the train driver was blinded by the heavy smog of the steam locomotives.[6]

The competition for constructing the new building was won by Reed & Stem who got further support by Warren & Wetmore. After a whole decade of construction, the new Grand Central Terminal was completed in 1913. On the outside, three triumphal arches as well as the sculptures of Mercury, Hercules, and Minerva attract the viewer’s attention. On the inside, floor and walls are lined with marble and the symbols of the Vanderbilt family, oak leaves and acorns, decorate fountains, chandeliers, and other places all over the station.[7] In addition to these aesthetic aspects, Grand Central Terminal was one of the first all-electric buildings in the world.[8]

Sources:

[1] “Be Transported. Grand Central Terminal.” Grand Central Terminal, 2019, www.grandcentralterminal.com/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2019.

[2] lbid.

[3] Maranzani, Barbara. “Grand Central Terminal: An American Icon.” History Stories, 1 Sep. 2018, www.history.com/news/grand-central-terminal-an-american-icon-turns-100. Accessed 3 Aug. 2019.

[4] “History.” Grand Central Terminal, 2019, www.grandcentralterminal.com/history/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2019.

[5] lbid.

[6] Maranzani, Barbara. “Grand Central Terminal: An American Icon.” History Stories, 1 Sep. 2018, www.history.com/news/grand-central-terminal-an-american-icon-turns-100. Accessed 3 Aug. 2019.

[7] “History.” Grand Central Terminal, 2019, www.grandcentralterminal.com/history/. Accessed 3 Aug. 2019.

[8] Maranzani, Barbara. “Grand Central Terminal: An American Icon.” History Stories, 1 Sep. 2018, www.history.com/news/grand-central-terminal-an-american-icon-turns-100. Accessed 3 Aug. 2019.

Image:

Pierre-Auguste Renoir: La Loge. 1874. https://1tq45j21k9qr27g1703pgsja-wpengine.netdna-ssl.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/renoir-1280x640.jpg