Did you know that Grand Central Station (also known as Grand Central Terminal) recently turned 100?
Opened in 1871 on 42nd Street between Park and Lexington avenues, the station was renovated and reopened in February 1913. Grand Central is one of the largest train connecters to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's (MTA) 4, 5,6, 7 and S lines that run in four boroughs; and connections to Metro-North Railway going to Westchester, Putnam and Duchess counties.
The Grand Central Library,The Stephen A. Schwarzman Building and The Mid-Manhattan Library are closest libraries to this NYC landmark.
Whenever I step foot in GC, I am always impressed and lost by the grand majestic ceiling and interior architecture as people are rushing from Point A to Point B and catching their departing trains. The echoes of chit-chats, quiet foot-steps and machinery noises all make GC an interesting spot to observe, study and experience.
The stats for the station are as follows: 650 feet long, 200 feet wide and 100 feet highwhile the Deborah, Jonathan F. P., Samuel Priest, and Adam R. Rose Main Reading Room in the Stephen A. Schwarzman Building is about 78 feet by 297 feet and 52 feet high.
Some of these photos from our Digital Gallery may surprise you: the evolution of the Grand Central Terminal that it became what it is today is quite a sight. Here are some resources covering GCT:
- The NYPL's Digital Gallery is rich with images of GCT >> (Accessible remotely)
- Also, here are some amazing images of subway construction from the New York City Views Collection>> (Accessible remotely; thanks to my colleagues from the Milstein Division for their efforts in digitizing the collection!)
- For the MTA's announcement and celebration of GCT >>
- Check out the NYPL Map Division for the history of the subway maps and how they changed over time!
- The MTA Transit Museum in Brooklyn is an excellent place to explore and learn more about the history of the MTA. Check out their Flickr page too!
- For further NYPL resources on the history and development of Grand Central Terminal, see here >>
- Read how Grand Central Terminal appears in literature >>
- Check out the NYPL Library Shop for some gift ideas relating to MTA-NYC >>