Grand Central celebrates its 100th anniversary on Feb. 1. The beautiful station was opened on Feb. 1, 1913 by William K. Vanderbilty, chairman of the New York Central Railroad.
The historic landmark has been said to symbolize "the great era of transportation," said Mickey Jacob, the president of the American Institute of Architects to the AP. "The grandeur and elegance coming into this space suggested the great adventure beyond."
During its opening 100 years ago nearly 150,000 people came in to view the stunning station, reported Newsday. The 1990s saw a $200 million renovation for the station. Grand Central Terminal is the world's largest railway station and its interior is one that many tourists come to see from all over the world.
Grand Central was almost demolished in the 1970s but was saved and now still stands to be an American historic icon. It's hard to realize that 40 years ago people said Grand Central should be demolished," said Simeon Bankoff, executive director of the Historic Districts Council to New York Daily News. "Try to imagine the city without it now. For so many years, this was people's first experience of New York as they arrived in the city.
There are a number of things occurring at Grand Central in commemoration of its 100th anniversary. Newsday reports that starting at 10 a.m. visitors can expect "a ceremony featuring songstress Melissa Manchester and preservationist Caroline Kennedy (whose mother was instrumental in saving the terminal from demolition in the 1970s), and the opening of "Grand by Design," a multimedia retrospective (open 8 a.m.-10 p.m. daily, through March 15) in Vanderbilt Hall, the original main waiting room."
New York Daily News reported that "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon and U.S Poet Laureate Billy Collins will also be on hand for the ceremony.
To bring in its 100th anniversary a number of restauarnats and food shops will have special prices for select items. "Commuters can enjoy music, dancing and historic displays in the lofty, sun-filled main concourse - and pay 1913 prices such as 10-cent shoeshines, 13-cent mussels and clams at Pescatore and 5-cent cups of coffee from Financier Patisserie," reported New York Daily News.
Later this year daily walking tours will be led in the terminal. Now there's an audio tour that takes about an hour and csts $7 to learn more about the history of Grand Central
"Pick up a headset at the special ticket window in the Main Concourse. Available 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday," reports Newsday.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
