Grand Central Terminal is an important transportation hub in the middle of New York City. It is often referred to as Grand Central Station with millions of commuters every week. It is the largest train station in the world with its 67 trains and 44 platforms placed on two levels. It is located on 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. The station was constructed between 1903 and 1913 by the Vanderbilt family.
Grand Central Terminal is a site in itself and is a spectacular Beaux-Arts building with gorgeous architecture, large arches, and intricate design. There is a beautiful clock made of genuine Tiffany glass, and detailed sculptures of Hercules, Minerva, and Mercury created by French sculptor Jules-Felix Coutan. Grand Central Terminal should be visited by anyone coming into New York City.
Grand Central Terminal was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976 and is a beautiful architectural masterpiece worth a visit. The most impressive part of Grand Central Terminal besides its outside architecture and sheer size is the main concourse area. This is a large space that is always bustling with crowds and people rushing to catch their trains. This is also where one of the most famous meeting places in New York City is located; the information booth at Grand Central Station. You will also see the iconic four-sided clock made of opal estimated to cost between $10 and $20 million. There are also many glittering chandeliers made of real gold
Another beautiful part of Grand Central Terminal is the ceiling at the main concourse, which has an intricate astronomical design and constellations painted using gold leaf on cerulean blue oil. The ceiling has the particularity of featuring a backward sky and over 2,000 displaced stars. This design is commonly explained by a medieval manuscript that shows the view that God would have of the sky from outside the celestial sphere. The ceiling was dirty and opaque for many years until it was restored to its former glory in 1998 following a 12-year renovation effort.
The best way to explore everything that Grand Central Terminal has to offer is to take either a walking self-guided tour or an audio tour. Through the walking tour, you will discover many of the station’s main attractions such as the Whispering Room, the Kissing Room, the “transportation” sculpture, and the two Grand Staircases. Audio tours are also a great way to discover Grand Central Terminal and cost $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and disabled, $4 for students, and only $2 for children under 12. They come in either local or express tours and include a detailed map and audio device. Tours are available every day of the year from 9 am to 6 pm and can be purchased at the CGT windows in the station’s main concourse.
While in Grand Central Terminal, you should discover the lower dining concourse level where the lower tracks are located. Here you will find a multitude of shops that you can browse that sell everything from clothing, shoes, jewelry, dishes, cosmetics and health products, books, leather goods, and much more. Grand Central Station also has a great assortment of eateries and restaurants to cater to all tastes and budgets. There are also many specialty food shops where you can stock up on chocolates, freshly baked goods, wines, olive oils, and much more.