Grand Central how a train station transformed America

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Summary

A rich, illustrated - and entertaining u2014 history of the iconic Grand Central Terminal, from one of New York City's favorite writers, just in time to celebrate the train station's 100th fabulous anniversary. In the winter of 1913, Grand Central Station was officially opened and immediately became one of the most beautiful and recognizable Manhattan landmarks. In this celebration of the one hundred year old terminal, Sam Roberts of The New York Times looks back at Grand Central's conception, amazing history, and the far-reaching cultural effects of the station that continues to amaze tourists and shuttle busy commuters. Along the way, Roberts will explore how the Manhattan transit hub truly foreshadowed the evolution of suburban expansion in the country, and fostered the nation's westward expansion and growth via the railroad. Featuring quirky anecdotes and behind-the-scenes information, this book will allow readers to peek into the secret and unseen areas of Grand Central u2014 from the tunnels, to the command center, to the hidden passageways. With stories about everything from the famous movies that have used Grand Central as a location to the celestial ceiling in the main lobby (including its stunning mistake) to the homeless denizens who reside in the building's catacombs, this is a fascinating and, exciting look at a true American institution.

Contents

Prologue : The accidental terminal
Rails vs. rivers
The Commodore
The depot
The station
The engineer
Terminal City
All aboard
Gateway to a continent
Saving Grand Central
The restoration
The characters
Commutation
Secrets of Grand Central
How it works
Since 2001 : a space odyssey
Epilogue : The second century.

Published Reviews

Booklist Review: "Grand Central Terminal in New York City owes its current incarnation to a fatal train crash in 1902, which was caused partially by human error and partially by design flaws in the New York Central Railroad system. The rebuilding of the terminal was a massive municipal project marshaling the talent and financial resources of leading architects, engineers, and artists. The result is an urban landmark akin to a palace as well as a transportation hub. Roberts, an urban-affairs correspondent for the New York Times, seems to have a love affair with the place, and he describes the building, evolution, and unique features of the terminal with an infectious passion. It is, as he notes, a major tourist attraction, the setting for key scenes in many motion pictures, and a center through which an estimated half a million people move each day. This well-done piece of urban history will appeal to both railroad enthusiasts and general readers.--Freeman, Jay Copyright 2010 Booklist"
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Publisher's Weekly Review: "Roberts delivers the story of one of the most famous transportation hubs in the world and how it shaped Midtown Manhattan into the bustling, thriving center of commerce and entertainment it is today. This is also a history of railroads in New York, from horse-pulled streetcars, to steam engines, to the electric trains brought to the city by Grand Central's chief engineer William Wilgus. Credited with being the first person to monetize "air rights", Wilgus conceived of Grand Central as a 12 story building with the terminal below and 2.3 million square feet above to be rented out to businesses. Roberts, the New York Times's Metro Matters columnist, covers the details of the construction of Grand Central as well as its massive renovation in the 1990's. He describes the massive changes in Midtown area after its initial construction, including the arrival of luxury hotels and office towers. "With Grand Central acting as an anchor," he writes, "Park Avenue was elevated into New York's most prestigious address." A wonderful volume for New York City history buffs or railroad aficionados, Roberts closes with discussions of some of the terminal's quirks and mysteries like the ubiquitous decorative acorns, the secret staircase, and various secret underground locations. (Feb.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved."

Additional Information

Subjects	Grand Central Terminal (New York, N.Y.) History Railroad terminals New York (State) New York History Architecture Transportation Nonfiction Electronic books.
Publisher	[Place of publication not identified] :Grand Central Publishing,2013 Grand Central Publishing2013
Edition	1st ed.
Contributors	Hamill, Pete, 1935-2020, writer of foreword. OverDrive, Inc.
Language	English
System Details	Mode of access: World Wide Web. Format: Adobe EPUB eBook Format: Kindle Book Format: OverDrive Read Requires Adobe Digital Editions or Amazon Kindle
Description	1 online resource
Bibliography Notes	Includes bibliographical information (pages 293-[296]) and index.
ISBN	9781455552924 9781455552924 9781455525959
Other	Classic View