Grand Central 2021

What design were the staircases in Grand Central based on?

The Paris Opera House.

Where does the secret train platform #61 connect to, via a special elevator?

The Waldorf-Astoria Hotel.

Why might you see people talking to the wall on the dining concourse near the Oyster Bar?

The ceramic arches create a "whispering gallery"

What's special about the information booth clock?

Each of the four clock faces is made from opal, and auction houses estimate its worth at more than $10 million.

What original station was finished on the site in 1871?

Grand Central Depot

How did the Vanderbilts make their fortune?

Railways

What is the Vanderbilt family symbol?

An acorn. "From the acorn grows the mighty oak."

What architectural style does Grand Central represent?

Beaux-Arts

Grand Central Terminal officially opened at 12:01 am on Sunday, February 2nd of what year?

1913

What happened to rail service during the ten years of Grand Central Terminal's excavation and construction?

It continued uninterrupted.

What's special about Grand Central's basement?

It is the deepest basement in New York City.

What was unique about the destruction of buildings on the 17 acres bought by the railroad to construct the Grand Central Terminal?

It was the city's largest individual demolition contract ever.

Why is there a six-inch hole in the ceiling mural?

It's a legacy of a NASA promotion for the Space Race during the Cold War. The hole was punched in the ceiling to help support a missile that was on display.

Why was a missile parked in the main concourse in 1957?

NASA brought it in to draw attention to their work and to drum up support for America's space program as the Space Race really gathered speed.

Where do long-distance Amtrak trains run to since 1991 (minus a few exceptions)?

Penn Station

What oldest business in Grand Central first opened its doors the same year as the terminal itself?

the Oyster Bar

What was the second incarnation of the station, whose most prominent feature was an enormous train shed, made of glass and steel, which some said rivaled the Eiffel Tower and Crystal Palace, called?

Grand Central Station

What is Grand Central's official name?

Grand Central Terminal

How does Grand Central compare to other stations in terms of size?

Grand Central it is the largest train station in the world by number of tracks and number of platforms.

What very New York reason led to the terminal's organist, Mary Lee Read, being forbidden from playing "The Star-Spangled Banner" (the US National Anthem)?

She caused commuters to miss their trains by playing the anthem on the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked.

Why is Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis viewed as a savior of Grand Central Terminal?

She was one of its most prominent supporters in the 1960s and 1970s as it battled developers, and she helped to secure its long-term future, by helping it to gain legal protection as a historic landmark.

What new nickname did Grand Central Terminal earn after its construction sparked a building boom in the area, with hotels and offices sprouting up nearby, including the Chrysler Building?

Terminal City

What was Grand Central's explanation for the mistake in the astronomical mural?

That it represented the sky from God's eye view.

What happened at three minutes and 58 seconds past 12 on November 18, 1883, to make it known as "the day with two noons"?

The US began keeping standard time, because railway schedules needed to be able to follow a uniform schedule nationwide.

What family built Grand Central?

The Vanderbilts

What aspect of the main concourse ceiling draws visitors from around the world?

The astronomical mural, which shows the Mediterranean sky and features 2,500 stars in their zodiac signs.

What event on January 8, 1902 increased demand for electric trains and precipitated plans for the new Grand Central Terminal?

A catastrophic steam train collision in the Park Avenue tunnel.

What is M42?

A once secret basement under the Terminal, containing converters used to supply electric currents to run the trains from the Terminal.

Why was Grand Central Terminal billed as the first great "stairless" station?

All levels, floors, and platforms within Grand Central can be reached by elevators or ramps.

What's special about the Lost and Found (lost property) at Grand Central?

It has the best recovery rate of any Lost and Found in the world. 80 per cent of lost items are returned to the owners.

What's notable about the clock facing 42nd Street outside?

Its face is the world's largest example of Tiffany glass.

For whom was the secret train platform #61 built?

President Franklin D. Roosevelt

Why do the 48 foot high statues around the clock on Grand Central's south face represent?

Mercury, Hercules and Minerva, all considered apt gods to represent the railroads with their attributes of speed, strength and intellect.

What railway still uses Grand Central?

Metro-North

What huge error did a commuting amateur astronomer notice the same year the terminal opened?

The sky is actually in reverse.

What's wrong with the terminal's display board of times and track numbers?

The times displayed are all 1 minute early, to help prevent people from missing their trains.

What secret escape hatch do information booth staff have after answering more than 1,000 questions each hour?

There is a "secret" door - leading to a staircase down to a lower level information booth.

Why was a basement under constant armed guard during World War II?

There was concern that Nazi spies might sabotage it, which would be as easy as dumping sand into the converters.

What is unique about the light bulbs at Grand Central Terminal?

They are naked and prominently displayed.

What remnants of the original Grand Central Depot were located in Bronxville and incorporated into Grand Central Terminal's restoration in the 90's?

Two iron eagles with a 13-foot wingspan.

Why is there a single dark patch on the ceiling?

When Grand Central was renovated in the 1990s, the ceiling was hidden under a layer of black grime; tar and nicotine from tobacco. The patch is a reminder of those days of smoking indoors.

Who is credited as the person responsible for the design and construction of the new Grand Central Terminal?

William J. Wilgus