Daily Central station in new York is visited by 750,000 people to shop, dine or hit the road. However, it is not only a major transport hub, but also an impressive work of architecture that impresses with its beauty and has an incredible history.
The current station was designed and built by the architectural firms Reed & Stem and Warren & Wetmore in the Beaux arts. Opened in 1913, it quickly became one of the main attractions of the city. As we expected, the Central station carries a few secrets.
1920
XIX century
1. Central station in new York has been rebuilt three times
Central station that you see now is not the original building. Actually, the current terminal is a third embodiment of the transport hub. The first station was built in 1871 and was called Grand Central Depot. The depot was served by three main railway lines of the region, but due to the rapid growth of the city’s population in 1900, it had to be demolished. Soon after, on its place was built a six-storey building, which was renamed Grand Central Station. The new station was unsuccessful, since its interior could not withstand the constant emissions of steam trains. The smoke blinded drivers often, and they saw no path before him that led to deaths. Once during one of the clashes killed 15 passengers, it was decided to build the building again. The second station was destroyed in 1905, and in its place came the present Grand Central Terminal.
2. The constellations on the ceiling upside down
The biggest absurdity that is present in the design of the station, is a map of stellar constellations, located on the ceiling. The fact that the images of stars in it… upside down. Surprisingly, blunder was noticed only after the opening of a new terminal building. When the inaccuracy was pointed out to the Vanderbilt family (which was engaged in the construction of the station), the answer was that it was meant to. The audience kind of looked at the painting with a heavenly perspective, and not from the earth. Despite the fact that this technique image found in medieval art, yet there are some problems with the accuracy of the image. For example, Taurus and Gemini are reversed in relation to the constellation of Orion, that is, they were drawn using the heavenly perspective, and Orion — earth.
3. Once the Nazis tried to blow up the station
After its completion in 1913, the planners wanted to position under the terminal for more top-secret electric substation. Equipment «M42» installed under the ground, it was capable of transmitting 11,000 volts of alternating current up to power the trains. All the benefits such a decision could evaluate the U.S. entry into the Second world war, when it was necessary to find a way to quickly move troops and artillery without obstacles. Secret substation on the verge of destruction when a German spy, working in the basement of the station, reported it to the Nazis. According to 6sqft, Hitler sent his men on submarines to eliminate strategically important object. Under cover of night, they had to come to the station and to the rotating blades throw sand. This would lead to a large explosion, which would have prevented the movement of troops via railway. Fortunately, the coast guard spotted the spies, and the FBI arrested them before they entered the station building.
4. In the bowels of the station’s hidden secret way for trains
Among the incredible secrets of the Central station there is a secret path, hidden in its depths. It was built to move cargo, and then turned into a private railroad, to the rich and famous could travel without attracting too much attention. The most famous user of this secret path was President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who did not want the country to know about its paralysis.
5. Before Central station had its own cinema
Theater for viewing short films, standing next to Track 17. It was opened in 1937 and had room for 242 seats. In addition to short films they showed newsreels, documentaries and cartoons, and their length was chosen so that it was convenient to passengers. The cinema has flourished for decades, but was closed in 1967.
6. A small spot on the ceiling shows just how much Smoking new Yorkers
A few years ago Smoking in public places was an acceptable phenomenon. A small dark spot on the ceiling of the main hall near the constellation Cancer nicotine recalls the recent past of new York. In 1998, the authorities cleared the ceiling of the station as part of the restoration project. At that time the ceiling was covered a thick layer of dirt. One would assume that it was formed due to soot and dust, however, it was found that in fact this layer consists of 70% of nicotine and tar.
7. Before Donald Trump belonged to the tennis court at the railway station
Just be aware of the fact that at the Central station there is not one but two tennis courts, fully open to the public. They are part of the Vanderbilt tennis club, located in the annexe to the station. In addition to the courts, the club boasts two strips for training, and a fully equipped fitness room. In the 1980-ies one of the courts belonged to Donald Trump. It played the famous tennis players such as John McEnroe and the Williams sisters. The trump called the tennis court one of the biggest secrets of the Grand Central station.
8. Central station was on the verge of demolition for the construction of a new skyscraper
Hard to believe that anyone in their right mind can consider the demolition of this architectural masterpiece like Grand Central station. But in the early 1950-ies this was actually possible. Engineers planned to demolish the terminal and replace it with a building that would become the tallest skyscraper in the world. The architects were tasked to design an 80-story building in an hourglass shape called Hyperboloid. Fortunately, these plans have remained plans, because construction costs were too high.
9. In the basement of the station there is a «whispering gallery»
Near Grand Central Oyster Bar in the lower hall, there are four arches, United to the curved ceiling, which together create a «whispering gallery». If one person stands in one corner, and the second at the opposite end and speaks at a normal volume level, first would be wonderful to hear, despite the distance of 15 meters, separating the participants of the conversation. It is not clear whether such an effect element of the project or it arose quite by accident.
10. At the Central station in plain sight hidden gem that is worth more than $10 million
Over the information booth in Central station clock with 4 dials, carved from a single solid piece of precious opal. Auction houses Sotheby’s and Christie’s estimate the watch at $10-20 million.
