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Official Grand Central Terminal Tour

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Grand Central Terminal Tour: Self-Guided Walk

Tour Details

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Welcome to the grand central terminal, nyc.

Did you know almost half of Manhattan’s population passes through Grand Central every day? This comprehensive self-guided walking tour in NYC uncovers the hidden secrets of this historic landmark, including the Sky Ceiling, Whispering Gallery, and iconic Information Booth & Clock.

Our New York city tours let you experience the city’s many wonders at your own pace. Do check our other New York city tours here .

About the Tour

This Grand Central Station walking tour begins just outside the terminal, on 42nd St. From here, you can admire the elegant entryway and learn about the statues that stand guard atop its grand entrance.

You’ll enter the station via Vanderbilt Hall, a beautiful space named for the station’s founders. Get the facts on the unbelievably wealthy Vanderbilt family and enter the Main Concourse, which you’ve seen in plenty of films and TV shows! This concourse is even more impressive in person, full of marble, crystal, and gold.

Next on this Grand Central Station walking tour, visit the famous clock and learn why it might just be worth $20 million! And did you know Grand Central practically invented time as we know it today? You’ll learn all about that while crossing the vast concourse.

Turn your eyes skyward next, toward the remarkable Sky Ceiling. Each constellation painted here carries a special meaning, and you’ll hear all about that as you trace the beautiful paintings from one end of the ceiling. Plus, learn about when NASA damaged the Main Concourse with a rocket!

After that, you’ll unpack the hidden symbolism within the extravagant chandeliers and find out how the station’s employees get from place to place without crossing the busy concourse.

Then, visit the often-overlooked Station Master’s Office and hear about how part of Grand Central was once almost torn down by developers. Finally, head to the lower levels to visit the strange and wonderful Whispering Gallery and the lavish Oyster Bar, where New York’s Roaring ’20s have been beautifully preserved. This New York walking tour concludes here.

Starting Point Address: 42 St – Grand Central Station, New York, NY 10017, USA

Discover the Hidden Treasures of NYC

Experience the energy and excitement of New York City like a true local with our NYC Like A New Yorker Self-Guided Walking Tours Bundle ! Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned NYC veteran, our bundle offers a unique perspective on the city’s rich history and culture. So, put on your walking shoes and get ready to discover the real New York City like a true New Yorker!

How does it work?

• Once you book a tour, you’ll get a text/email with instructions.
• Download the app (while in good wifi/signal) and use your unique password to access your tours.
• To begin touring, go to the starting point and launch the app.
• The audio starts automatically once you reach the starting point. Stick to the tour route & speed limit for the best experience.
• Please note that no one will meet you at the starting point.

What You'll See

Welcome/introduction.

Your tour of Grand Central Terminal begins just outside the terminal itself. This journey will take your through this enormous, historic station and introduce you to history and details most visitors never know about!

42nd Street Sculpture and Clock

Visible from outside the terminal, "The Glory of Commerce" sculpture stands proudly atop the roof of Grand Central Terminal. It depicts three figures from Roman mythology, each with a specific meaning. Directly beneath it is a clock made of Tiffany glass.

Vanderbilt Hall

Vanderbilt Hall is the first area you'll emerge into upon entering the station. It is named for the Vanderbilt family, who were behind the construction of Grand Central Terminal. Today, it's also home to the Great Northern Food Hall, full of all sorts of edible goodies.

Main Concourse Summary

The Main Concourse is simply breathtaking. A positively cavernous space with an impossibly high ceiling, buzzing with activity day and night. All the marble and gold trim harkens back to the Gilded Age, which you'll hear all about as you enter this impressive space.

The Information Booth & Clock

Some of Grand Central Terminal's coolest parts are also the most humble, such as the Information Booth within the Main Concourse. This booth hides a spiral staircase which allows clerks to move between floors, as well as to a secret break room. As for the famous clock, some claim its face is made from real opal!

The Ticket Windows

The ticket windows might not look like much, but if you look carefully you can spot subtle symbols alluding to the wealth and status of the Vanderbilts. Just keep your eyes open for acorns and oak leaves!

The Sky Ceiling

The Sky Ceiling is likely the terminal's most impressive feature. Painted a cerulean blue and decorated with an immense mural of the Zodiac constellations, this vaulted ceiling is unlike any other. As you follow the string of constellations, you'll hear all about the fascinating myths behind each and every one.

The Chandeliers

Weighing in at 2,500 pounds and illuminated by 150 bulbs, the chandeliers in Grand Central Terminal are no laughing matter. They're even more impressive if you consider that in 1913, when the terminal was constructed, electricity in buildings was still quite a new phenomenon!

The Walls of Glass

These staggeringly huge walls of glass aren't just for show. If you watch them closely, you'll see terminal employees walking along catwalks within those walls! These also have some really interesting World War II history which you'll discover.

The West Staircase

Crafted from pink marble and modeled after the staircases of the Paris Opera House, this is no ordinary staircase. In fact, it's more like a work of art that just so happens to also function as stairs!

The Station Master’s Office

Humble and unassuming, the Station Master's Office is the real heart of the terminal. This is where the Station Master and their assistants make sure all the trains run on time and nothing goes haywire.

The New York Transit Museum

This small museum is a lovely glimpse into the history of New York Transit. It features a fleet of old-fashioned train cars, maps of now-abandoned tunnels, and all sorts of fascinating odds and ends. If you're a train enthusiast, this is the perfect place for you.

Whispering Gallery

You might notice people clustered in the corners of the so-called Whispering Gallery. That's because, by a strange fluke of the architecture, words whispered into one corner can be heard clearly from the opposite corner. It's always good for a bit of fun, so don't be afraid to give it a try!

This astonishingly lavish bar dates back to the construction of the terminal. With its opulent, Gilded Age aesthetic, it's the perfect place to lounge in luxury. There's a reason The Oyster Bar has been featured in shows like Mad Men! As you continue toward the end of the tour, you'll also hear about a fire which nearly spelled the end of this historic establishment, as well as how it was saved.

Preview The Tour

  where does the tour start.

The tour typically starts just outside Grand Central Terminal, located on 42nd Street in New York City.

  What is the Grand Central Terminal Self-Guided Walking Tour?

It is a comprehensive tour of New York City’s historic Grand Central Terminal, where you will learn about its hidden secrets and iconic features.

  What are some of the notable attractions covered in this walking tour?

This walking tour covers Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt Hall, Main Concourse, $20 million clock, Sky Ceiling with symbolic stars, chandeliers, Station Master’s Office, etc.

  What are some interesting facts about Grand Central Terminal?

Grand Central Terminal’s Vanderbilt family, opulent Main Concourse, Sky Ceiling constellation symbolism, famous clock, and NASA rocket damage are all covered in the tour.

  Where does the Grand Central Terminal walking tour conclude?

The walking tour typically concludes at the lavish Oyster Bar located in the lower levels of Grand Central Terminal.

  Are there other self-guided walking tours available for exploring New York City?

Yes, there are other self-guided walking tours available for exploring different parts of New York City. Visitors can choose from a variety of tours to discover the city’s history, culture, and hidden treasures at their own pace.

  What is the significance of Grand Central Terminal in New York City’s history?

Grand Central Terminal, a New York City transportation hub, is famous for its architecture and culture.

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What to See and Do in Grand Central Terminal

This post is a guide to Grand Central Terminal, what you can see here, tours, dining, shopping, and secret locations. ( Guia en español )

All aboard!

• How to Get Here
• What to See
• Shopping and Dining
• Secrets of Grand Central
• Grand Central Station (or Terminal)?

WHERE IS GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL?

Grand Central Station is located at 42 nd Street and Park Avenue ( map ).   

It can be also accessed from Lexington Avenue on the East, Vanderbilt Avenue on the West and 46th Street on the North.

Getting there:

As one of the busiest subway and train hubs in the world, multiple subway lines serve the station. 

• 4, 5, 6, and 7 trains to station stop  Grand Central-42nd Street
• S shuttle train that runs between Times Square and Grand Central

If you are new to the NYC Subway, then be sure to read the following guides.

• How to Use the  Subway  
• Tips for Choosing the Best MetroCard

By bus: M42, M101, M102, M103, M1, M2, M3, M4, and Q32 

TIP: Hop-on-hop-off buses all have stops very near Grand Central, so why not consider a tour bus as a fun means of transportation around the city, and hop-off to check out Grand Central along the way!

The subway 5:00 am - 2:00 am (the subways run to this stop 24 hours a day, but the terminal building itself closes for a few hours each morning.)

Practical Tips: 

If you need to store your luggage before departure or after arrival, check out these  options for luggage storage near the terminal as there are no longer lockers available.

Nearby Attractions

Due to its Midtown location, the terminal is located near several popular attractions, including:

• Empire State Building
• Times Square
• Bryant Park
• New York Public Library
• Rockefeller Center
• St. Patrick's Cathedral
• United Nations

WHAT TO SEE AT GRAND CENTRAL

Grand Central is one of the most beautiful structures in New York City. It is one of the very best locations for iconic New York City photograph y , so have your camera ready to go as you visit the sights below!

Start on the outside of the Terminal. Look all the way up to the top of the building where you will see a cluster of sculptures. 

This collection was designed by Jules Felix-Coutan and depicts Minerva, Mercury, and Hercules. 

This represents Wisdom, Speed, and Strength, according to Roman mythology.

When it was unveiled it was the largest sculpture grouping in the world and it was called “The Glory of Commerce.”   

Just beneath Mercury is the exterior clock of Grand Central. It is the largest piece of Tiffany glass in the world, measuring 14 feet in diameter.

This clock is also the only one that is a part of the station is set to the correct time, but more on that later!

Look for the eagles perched on the corner of the building.  These eagles actually adorned the previous Grand Central Station, which opened in 1869. 

These eagles have very lifelike and ferocious expressions on their faces.  This helps to keep pigeons away. 

The statue out in front is The Commodore or Cornelius Vanderbilt. The Commodore was the man that started it all by unifying the railroads at Grand Central Depot. 

The Vanderbilt family also built the current Grand Central Terminal.

Consider using our audio tour to guide you through the terminal.

Main Concourse

The Main Concourse is the center of activity in the terminal, with people rushing through the massive, 275 ft-long space trying to catch their trains. 

It is also one of the most beautiful train terminals in the world.

Plan to spend some time here and admire the splendor, though best to avoid during rush hours (8-9 am and 5-6 pm).

You may recognize the Main Concourse from dozens of films, from Hitchcock’s North by Northwest  to the animated film Madagascar .

Superhero fans will certainly recognize the terminal from the Avengers , Superman , and X-men . Check out our Superhero Tour of New York City .

The Ceiling 

This is probably the best-known part of Grand Central. It depicts the constellations of the zodiac.

Though it is beautiful, the ceiling is not astronomically correct. It is actually backward. 

This was pointed out by an astute commuter in 1913.

This error was explained away with the reason that it was painted to reflect the perspective of God looking down, in keeping with medieval artistic traditions. 

Many think that it was not intentional and that the sketch provided by Columbia astronomer Harold Jacoby for the painting of the ceiling was simply misread and done backward by careless painters.

The four-sided clock is possibly the most iconic feature of Grand Central. The clock has been a long-standing meeting spot for New Yorkers.  

The clock is made of brass and it is said that the clock faces are made out of precious opals and that the value of the clock is well over $10 million! 

Also, if you take a look at the clock and then a quick peek at your phone or watch, you will notice that the time on the Grand Central clock is a minute or so ahead.

This is on purpose and is consistent with every clock inside the station. The clock helps people to not be late for their trains and prevents safety hazards with people running for trains that are about to pull out of the station.

Some fun trivia: In the movie Madagascar , Melman the giraffe breaks the clock while the animals are in the station trying to catch a train to Connecticut.

Ceiling Smudge

look all the way over to Cancer the Crab in the northwest corner of the ceiling. Just past that, where the blue and white meet, there is a small blackish rectangle.  

That is just how filthy the original beautiful sky-blue ceiling had become after decades of accumulated tar and nicotine smoke.

There were a great many smokers among the nearly half-million people who passed through the terminal every day since its opening.

Over time the ceiling became coated with thick grime which was finally removed in 1998 when the terminal underwent a massive restoration spearheaded by Jackie Kenndey and other preservationists.

Workers got up on the scaffolding with buckets of soap and water and paintbrushes and cleaned away the years of build-up. 

The one spot was left as a reminder of how much work was done.

The missile was very big, so in order to not disturb pedestrian traffic flows, a hole was made in the ceiling so that the rocket could be suspended above the floor.

It was left as a testament to all of the different eras of history that Grand Central has seen.

Carvings of acorns and oak leaves 

Keep an eye out all throughout the station for carvings of acorns and oak leaves.  They are everywhere! 

That is because Cornelius Vanderbilt chose them as a family symbol. The family motto was “Great oaks from tiny acorns grow”. 

Vanderbilt was a self-made man and that symbolism resonated with him. There are carvings all over the Terminal; some large, some small. 

The easiest to spot are on the bottoms of the beautiful 24-carat gold-plated chandeliers, which have 110 light bulbs each! 

The Biltmore Room  

The Biltmore Room is also known as "The Kissing Room."  

In the height of train travel for long-distance trips, the famous 20th Century Limited train from the west coast arrived at the tracks next to the Biltmore Room.

Passengers, sometimes including movie stars and politicians, would exit the train and reunite with their loved ones in the Biltmore Room.  

There was much hugging and kissing, hence the nickname "The Kissing Room."  

While you are in here, check out the back wall. On it, you will see a chalkboard, a relic from the early days of Grand Central.  

Before automated boards, it was someone's job to sit there and hand-write the arrivals and departures on the chalkboard.  

This was no easy task because, in the heyday of Grand Central, there were over 550 departures every weekday.  (There are usually 286 today.) That's a lot to keep up with! 

The Whispering Gallery (right outside the Oyster Bar)

One of the most popular spots in the Terminal, the Whispering Gallery is often crowded with people who have their faces pressed into the corner. 

This relatively plain-looking space can do something amazing. 

The gallery transmits sound from corner to corner perfectly, so that you can have a conversation with a friend at the barest whisper and hear each other as though you were standing face to face. 

This architectural anomaly is caused by the precise arch of the ceiling and the tiled surface.  Don’t miss this!  Click here for a 45 second YouTube video demonstration .

For the most in-depth exploration of this building, sign up for one of our free Grand Central Tours ! If you are going to visit on your own, use this post as a guide.

GRAND CENTRAL STATION TOURS

This building is chock-full of amazing history, details, and quirks.  Whether you take a tour or explore on your own, do not miss this gem of NYC.

Free Tours by Foot audio tour with GPS , perfect for any time, day or night. A download is just $1.99. Below is a sample.

Free Tours by Foot also offers a two-hour tour of Grand Central  on Sundays at 10 am and sometimes at 1 pm.

The Grand Central Partnership offers a free (donations accepted) tour every Friday @ 12:30 pm.

The Municipal Arts Society offers daily at 12:30 pm, 75-minute tours of the terminal. Tickets are $25 for adults and $20 for seniors, students, children under 10, members of the military. Space is limited. 

TIP: If you have the New York Pass , the audio tour of Grand Central Terminal is included.

Not sure if a tourist pass is for you?  Then check out our post  Which New York Tourist Pass is Best?

What is the difference between Grand Central Terminal and Grand Central Station?

The difference is that the commuter trains that service the suburbs of NYC start and terminate at Grand Central, thus it is a terminus for these trains (hence Grand Central Terminal).

Technically, there is also a station is for subway trains. These trains don't terminate here, they pass through (hence the name Grand Central Station).

Most people call the combined units Grand Central Station even though this is a misnomer.

Part of the confusion stems from the history of train use in this area. 

The first structure built there in 1871 was Grand Central Depot and was a hub for railroad lines that came through Manhattan.

As the use of railroads grew, the depot was demolished in 1899 and a larger structure was built.

It was called Grand Central Station as railroad lines passed through the site and did not necessarily terminate there.

Once railroads ceased servicing New York City, all railroad lines coming into the city terminated at the station, and the name of the structure changed to Grand Central Terminal.

HISTORY OF GRAND CENTRAL

The current Grand Central Terminal was opened on February 2, 1913.

Prior to the opening of this beautiful, Beaux-Arts building, there were two previous stations on this site: Grand Central Depot and Grand Central Station.

The previous buildings served to unite all of the existing rail lines in New York at the time and to bring them all under one roof. 

From 1903 to 1913, Grand Central Station was systematically torn down and the current Grand Central Terminal was built in its place. 

The architectural firms of Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore designed the massive granite building. 

The station was considered revolutionary in many ways. The station was electric, bi-level and the tracks were below ground. 

This novel scheme made for more efficient rail traffic and also opened up Park Avenue north of Grand Central, which had previously been covered by rail tracks. 

Over 150,000 people turned up to celebrate the opening day of Grand Central Terminal, and it had been drawing crowds ever since! 

SHOPPING AND DINING

What shops are at grand central terminal.

Grand Central Terminal (GCT) has a variety of shops that cater to both commuters and tourists.

Many shops sell upscale clothing, accessories, jewelry, and other items that appeal to tourists and also commuters from the wealthy suburbs.

You’ll find stores like Vince Camuto clothing, Jo Malone fragrances, and TUMI Luggage.

Other shops aren’t as fancy and sell practical items, including a pharmacy, several beauty supply shops, a nice wine store, and more.

Top 10 shops we think visitors to NYC will enjoy:

• Apple Store - shop, just recharge your phone and surf the web for free
• Banana Republic - men’s and women’s clothing
• Warby Parker - trendy and affordable eyeglasses
• PIQ  - designer toys, unique NYC items, clever books
• New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex & Store - NYC souvenirs
• Swatch - fun and funky watches
• L’Occitane - France-based chain selling skincare, bath & hair products
• Li-Lac Chocolates handmade chocolates & other confections
• Papyrus - fanciful paper goods, accessories, and gifts
• Kidding Around Toys - independent toy shop with an educational slant

Save some money by taking advantage of the monthly deals and offers at the Grand Central shops and restaurants .

TIP: If you are here during the holiday seasons, visit the Grand Central Station Holiday Market .

Top 10 Places to Get Food

There are dozens of places to get food inside of Grand Central. Most are affordable and perfect for grabbing lunch or a snack.

Many are located in the Dining Concourse on the lower level of the terminal.

Here is a  map of the dining concourse and a directory of food shops .

• Prova Pizzabar
• Grand Central Market
• Doughnut Plant
• Murray’s Cheese
• Shake Shack
• Great Northern Food Hall
• Shiro of Japan
• Dishes At Home
• Magnolia Bakery (of Sex and The City cupcake fame!)

There are also some fine dining, like Cipriani Dolci, where you can dine on the second level balconies of the Grand Hall and watch as people pass through the terminal. 

The Oyster Bar

The famous Oyster Bar is the only business that remains from the very day that Grand Central opened in 1913. 

They offer one of the largest seafood menus in the city, with over 25 kinds of fish and over 30 different kinds of oysters. 

They just underwent a renovation, so stop by and check it out! 

While you are slurping oysters, be sure to look up and check out the beautiful Guastavino tile ceiling. 

The Oyster Bar is shown in the current opening of Saturday Night Live, as a background while they are introducing cast members.

Campbell Apartment Bar

Grand Central’s “hidden” bar can be accessed from the Vanderbilt Avenue side of the station.

Despite the name, it was never actually a residence. The Campbell Apartment was the private office of railroad executive John W. Campbell in the 1920s.

Campbell leased this large, 30ft by 60ft space from the Vanderbilt family. He then paid to have the place transformed into a 13 th century Florentine Palace. 

He had a safe built into a faux-fireplace and ordered a Persian rug that took up the entire floor. The rug alone cost $300,000 in the 1920s (as much as $3.5 million today!) 

Campbell also had a pipe organ installed and bought a grand piano for the office. 

In the evenings he used it as a private reception hall, entertaining up to 60 guests and hiring world-class musicians to come and play private recitals.  T

here was a permanent butler on staff named Stackhouse. 

After Campbell’s death in 1957, the office became a relic of a bygone era and became first a signalman’s office, then a storage space and then finally a small jail for the Transit Police. 

The Campbell Apartment was restored to its former glory in 1999 and opened as a bar. 

Drinks are not cheap, but it is a fantastic experience and truly feels as though you have stepped back in time.

SECRETS OF GRAND CENTRAL

M42   .

M42 is the most closely guarded secret of the station. The room is not shown on any map or blueprint and its existence was not even acknowledged for many years. 

It contains a massive converter that is responsible for all of the electricity in Grand Central, including the rail tracks.

It is such an important room that it was the target of an important German spy mission during World War II. 

Two German spies attempted to debilitate the rotary motors, which would have cut off the power grid. 

Because we moved troops by train in the 1940s, this would have halted troop movement on the Eastern Seaboard and would have been a major setback. 

The men were arrested before they could carry out their plan, and M42 is still a closely guarded secret.

Track 61, a part is Grand Central, is underneath the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. It can be reached by a private elevator car that goes directly from the Presidential Suite down to the platform. 

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt used it often because he disliked being seen in public in his wheelchair.

Using this platform made it possible for him to travel out of the public eye. 

In later years, the platform was a fashionable (if bizarre) event space. Andy Warhol held a party on the platform and a fashion show has been held there. 

Though it isn’t used regularly anymore it could technically be accessed from the Waldorf Astoria in the event of an emergency if someone needed to get out of New York quickly and discreetly.

Tennis Court 

Yes, you read that right!  There is a tennis court in Grand Central, added in the 1960s.

It is currently owned by Donald Trump and is called The Vanderbilt Tennis Club. 

Superstars such as the Williams sisters have played there. Technically it is open to the public, but most people would have a tough time getting a reservation!

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The Grand Tour

Quote Text Step out of Midtown's rush and take some time to explore our neighborhood's iconic towers and hidden nooks. Tours

Important Notice

The grand tour is suspended until further notice..

As an alternative, consider taking the Official Grand Central Terminal Tour . 

Suspended until Further Notice

In the atrium at 120 Park Avenue

The Grand Central Partnership offers a  free, weekly, no-reservations-required, award-winning walking tour of the Grand Central neighborhood , that provides a survey of many of the architecturally and historically significant sights – among them the Chrysler Building, Grand Central Terminal, itself and Pershing Square – that fall within the  boundaries of our business improvement district .

Come discover the architecture and social history of Midtown East with urban historians  Peter Laskowich  and Madeleine Levi. Participants on this  90-minute guided walking tour  will learn the secrets of the Whispering Gallery in Grand Central Terminal; gaze upon the hubcaps and the roadsters on the side of the Chrysler Building; discover the favorite Midtown Manhattan hangout of Mercury, Hercules, and Minerva; learn why Pershing Square isn’t really square; circle the globe in a matter of seconds like Superman; and visit the original Lincoln Memorial by Daniel Chester French. It’s all right here in the heart of Midtown Manhattan!

Join The Grand Tour and experience familiar Midtown East landmarks like Grand Central Terminal, the Chrysler Building, and the News Building – through new eyes. The AAA Guide to New York rated  The Grand Tour  as New York City’s “Best Walking Tour.”

The Grand Tour meets  each and   EVERY  Friday  throughout the year  at 12:30 pm in the atrium at 120 Park Avenue, located at the southwest corner of East 42nd Street and Park Avenue directly across from Grand Central Terminal.  Again, no reservations are necessary.

If you’d like to take a tour of Grand Central Terminal, exclusively, there are number of options available via the Grand Central Terminal website, including an audio tour and a daily guided tour led by the Municipal Arts Society. For more information on either option, as well as additional group tour options,  click here .

Note:  Tours of the “behind-the-scenes” areas of Grand Central Terminal are not offered by our organization and are only rarely offered/authorized by the MTA.

For any additional information and questions, please contact  [email protected] .

Tour Details

Suspended until further notice

Running Time

Tour length varies according to the different content the tour guides include each week, but tours generally run from 90 minutes to two+ hours.

Meeting Point

Meet in the street-level atrium at 120 Park Avenue, located at the southwest corner of East 42nd St and Park Ave directly across from Grand Central Terminal.

All tours are FREE and open to the public. No reservations are necessary. If you would like to join with a group of six or more, please contact us at [email protected] for assistance.

GCP encourages questions, feedback and suggestions from our local stakeholders and visitors alike. Please don’t hesitate to contact us and let us know how we can assist.

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Main Office

• 122 East 42nd Street, Suite 601
• New York, NY 10168

© 2020 Grand Central Partnership. All rights reserved.

Grand Central Vs. Penn Station: The Difference Between New York City's Train Stations

Grand Central and Penn Station are the two busiest stations in NYC and they offer much more than transportation.

• Penn Station, built in 1910, was unfortunately demolished in 1963, leaving behind a historical legacy lost forever.
• Grand Central, opened in 1913, is now famous for its grand architecture and hosts approximately 750,000 visitors every day.
• Although Grand Central is more popular, Penn Station serves as America's busiest rail hub, accommodating over 650,000 passengers daily.

Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal speak of a different time — the golden age of train travel. They were built by rival railroad companies early in the 1900s and have become loved landmarks in NYC.

Today, these train stations are much more than just places to catch a train. They are some of the top attractions in NYC, and Grand Central Terminal has a lot to explore and admire .

Penn Station: The History Of The First Great NYC Train Station

Penn station is older than grand central and once boasted a masterpiece of beaux-arts.

Penn Station (or Pennsylvania Station) is the older one of the two stations and first opened in 1910. Penn Station is located near the Empire State Building, close to Madison Square Garden.

Originally, there was an above-ground station, but that was demolished in 1963. The station is named after the Pennsylvania Railroad, the original owner of the station.

• Built: 1910
• Original Owner: Pennsylvania Railroad

The original Penn Station building was considered a masterpiece of the Beaux-Arts style. Tragically, this stunning building was torn down in 1963 in an act that has been termed by the New York Times as a "monumental act of vandalism."

Grand Central Station: The History Of America's Most Famous Train Station

Grand central is one of the most iconic attractions in nyc and is a hub for the city's mass transit.

Grand Central Station is perhaps the most famous train station in all the United States and there are many mind-blowing facts about its history . Grand Central was first opened in 1913 and is now noted for its grand and beautiful architecture. It is the more popular of the two stations with more people visiting Grand Central.

Grand Central was built by the New York Central Railroad but also served the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. Grand Central used to serve intercity trains, but this ended in 1991 when Amtrak routed them through Penn Station.

• Opened: 1913
• Original Owner: New York Central Railroad

Grand Central is located in Manhattan near the Chrysler Building and Bryant Park. The site had older train terminals, the oldest of which was built in 1871.

What To Know About The Tunnels Under NYC

Penn station: the busiest train station by passengers, penn station is nyc's main train terminal for inter-city trains & is the busiest in the usa.

When one adjusts the number of visitors to only include those coming to the station for passenger or commuter rail services, Penn Station is busier than Grand Central. It serves hundreds of thousands of passengers daily and is the busiest station in the United States.

"The Moynihan Train Hall / New York Penn Station complex is the busiest rail hub in North America and a gateway to the nation's largest city." - The Great American Stations

• Passengers: Over 650,000 daily commuter, transit, and intercity passengers

Penn Station serves as the main intercity train station in NYC and the regional hub of Amtrak. It receives Amtrak, Long Island Rail Road, and New Jersey Transit trains as well as A, C, E, and 1, 2, and 3 MTA subway lines.

• Opening Hours: 5:00 am to 1:00 am daily (Moynihan Train Hall)
• Admission: Free

Like Grand Central Terminal, there is much more to Penn Station than just transportation — it also boasts some of NYC's most iconic foods.

Recently, Penn Station has been expanded with the opening of the Moynihan Train Hall (in the Farley Post Office building), along with new railway platforms and new tunnels. The Moynihan Train Hall marks a half-a-million-square-foot complex contemporary addition to Penn Station.

Where It Starts: 10 Of The Best Amtrak Stations In The Country

Grand central: the most visited & beautiful train station, grand central is popular for its architecture, shopping, and dining, and for being a noted meeting venue.

Grand Central receives almost 750,000 people every day, although these are often coming for purposes other than taking a train, such as enjoying the station, shopping, or dining.

"Grand Central Terminal is one of the most-visited destinations in NYC for a reason: history, architecture, dining, and shopping, all under one magnificent roof." - Grand Central Terminal

• Visitors: Approx. 22 million in 2018

Today, Grand Central serves as a commuter rail terminal and receives Metro-North Railroad commuter trains and 4, 5, 6, 7, and S MTA subway lines.

• Opening Hours: 5:15 am to 2:00 am daily

The station is famous for its interior Beaux-Arts design. It is one of the world's top-visited tourist attractions and a popular meeting place.

While Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal have withstood the test of time and are extraordinarily busy, other train stations in New York City have become abandoned and can only be visited with special tours.

Shopping will open at Grand Central Madison by next year: MTA

Long Island commuters might be noshing and shopping at Grand Central Madison as early as next year.

The MTA has begun formally looking for a so-called “master tenant” to manage the LIRR terminal’s 25,000 square feet of retail space, transit officials announced Tuesday, saying they’re aiming to close the deal by year’s end.

“We’re hoping to make a selection by the fall,” David Florio, the MTA’s head of real estate, told reporters. “Between lease negotiation, plan review and so forth, we’re hoping to see some stores slowly ramp up during the course of 2025, and probably by ’26 you’ll see a full complement of stores.”

The gleaming white concourse’s 32 storefronts have sat empty since the LIRR’s long-awaited eastern terminal first opened in January 2023, with their huge plate glass windows papered over by generic scenes of food and consumer goods.

“When we were finishing up this new terminal, it was the height of COVID,” MTA Chairman Janno Lieber said Tuesday. “In the middle of that, we talked to the market about retail and everybody said, understandably, ‘We’ve got to wait until COVID is over and see how the world recovers and see what the foot traffic is in this new terminal.’ ”

Foot traffic in the east Midtown area is on the rise overall, Alfred Cerullo, head of the Grand Central Partnership, told reporters.

“We began this year at over 80% of 2019 numbers, in terms of pedestrians accessing this neighborhood,” Cerullo said.

On the weekends, he said, foot traffic in east Midtown is even higher than before the pandemic, though he didn’t give specific numbers.

MTA officials have long said they wanted a single “master tenant” to take charge of Grand Central Madison, where food and retail options remain sparse over a year after opening.

Similar agreements have proved successful at other hubs, like at Penn Station, where Vornado Realty Trust rules the roost .

Earlier this year, the Westfield Corp., which operates the concessions at the Fulton St. station in lower Manhattan, abruptly said it wanted to back out of its agreement with the MTA , citing crime and quality-of-life issues .

The company is roughly halfway through its 20-year lease agreement. The MTA has since sued Westfield in an effort to prevent the company from bowing out of the station.

Lieber addressed system safety Tuesday.

“I think folks who have used this facility know that this is incredibly well-policed and orderly,” he said. “I think that the world experiences Grand Central as among the safest places to be in transit.”

Asked what kinds of shops and restaurants he envisioned coming to the terminal, Lieber referenced the amenities at Grand Central Terminal some 50 feet above.

“Grand Central Terminal — old Grand Central — is the model,” he said.

Lieber, who prior to his stint as MTA honcho headed up Silverstein Properties’ World Trade Center division during the rebuilding of the complex, took a dig at his former stomping ground.

“We may not be the Oculus — we have not organized around providing our commuters the opportunity to buy a $10,000 watch on their way to or from getting their salad,” he quipped.

“What we’re looking for is a mix that’s very similar to Grand Central now,” Lieber added.

An MTA brochure for potential respondents shows a hypothetical map of the concourse with shops identified as newsstands, bagel stores and an Italian restaurant. Lieber said he hoped some big-name retailers would be in the mix, too.

One tenant is already known. Tracks, the stalwart LIRR bar known for its Penn Station location, has signed on to open a branch at the center of Grand Central Madison.

The bar, which is contracting directly with the MTA rather than through the future master tenant, is expected to open by the end of the year.

©2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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MTA eyes future of dining, retail at new Grand Central Madison terminal

MIDTOWN, Manhattan (WABC) -- The MTA released its request for proposals Tuesday to add retail and dining at Grand Central Madison, the LIRR's new terminal at Grand Central.

The announcement was followed by a panel discussion on jobs and the importance of retail in transportation.

The MTA has been attempting to recruit businesses to fill 32 retail units for the Grand Central Madison concourse. And it's New York City or Long Island brands with loyal followers they have their eye on.

"I think the world experiences Grand Central as one of the safest places to be in transit in New York certainly," said MTA Chair Janno Lieber. "This facility has been virtually perfect since day one."

The agency recently lured Tracks Raw Bar & Grill, an oyster bar that was a longtime commuter favorite in Penn Station before it was forced to relocate during the 2019 construction project that is still ongoing.

The $11 billion station introduced new train service from Long island and Queens directly to Manhattan's East Side, which represents the core of East Midtown. East Midtown has been referred as the most high value business district in the world by business and transit leaders.

What we are seeing here completes that mix," added Boston Properties Senior Vice President of Development Rich Monopoli. "This is a beautiful execution of transportation facilities. Couple that with retail that's coming, that drives office consumption."

The Grand Central Madison space will also feature separate retail and dining from the Grand Central Terminal retail run by the MTA's other commuter railroad, Metro-North. This development comes as retailers are leaving Fulton Center - another transit hub - over public safety concerns.

"I have to feel safe safe placing my employees in a safe area," said business owner Brenda LaManna. "I have to feel good about that, and I do. And down here, I think it's going to be the same.

The density of space afforded to workers in this area equals to 200,000 employees working within a 70 block radius,

Proposals from retail managers are due in June, with the MTA hoping to make a selection by fall.

The MTA also hopes to have some stores ramp up during 2025 and fully occupied by 2026.

January 23rd marked one year since the MTA opened Grand Central Madison, giving Long Island Rail Road riders direct access to Manhattan's east side.

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• NEW YORK CITY
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Watch CBS News

Solar eclipse maps show 2024 totality path, peak times and how much of the eclipse people could see across the U.S.

By Aliza Chasan

Updated on: April 9, 2024 / 5:00 AM EDT / CBS News

A total solar eclipse  crossed North America Monday with parts of 15 U.S. states within the path of totality. Maps show  where and when astronomy fans could see the big event  as skies darkened in the middle of the day Monday, April 8.

The total eclipse first appeared along Mexico's Pacific Coast at around 11:07 a.m. PDT, then traveled across a swath of the U.S., from Texas to Maine, and into Canada.

About 31.6 million people live in the path of totality , the area where the moon fully blocked out the sun , according to NASA. The path ranged between 108 and 122 miles wide. An additional 150 million people live within 200 miles of the path of totality.

Solar eclipse path of totality map for 2024

The total solar eclipse started over the Pacific Ocean, and the first location in continental North America that experienced totality was Mexico's Pacific Coast, around 11:07 a.m. PDT, according to NASA. From there, the path continued into Texas, crossing more than a dozen states before the eclipse enters Canada in southern Ontario. The eclipse exited continental North America at around 5:16 p.m. NDT from Newfoundland, Canada.

The path of totality included portions of the following states:

• Pennsylvania
• New Hampshire

Small parts of Tennessee and Michigan also experienced the total solar eclipse.

Several major cities across the U.S. were included in the eclipse's path of totality, while many others saw a partial eclipse. These were some of the best major cities for eclipse viewing — though the weather was a factor :

• San Antonio, Texas (partially under the path)
• Austin, Texas
• Waco, Texas
• Dallas, Texas
• Little Rock, Arkansas
• Indianapolis, Indiana
• Dayton, Ohio
• Cleveland, Ohio
• Buffalo, New York
• Rochester, New York
• Syracuse, New York
• Burlington, Vermont

Map of when the solar eclipse reached totality across its path

The eclipse began in the U.S. as a partial eclipse beginning at 12:06 p.m. CDT near Eagle Pass, Texas, before progressing to totality by about 1:27 p.m. CDT and then moving along its path to the northeast over the following few hours.

NASA shared times for several cities in the path of totality across the U.S. People could have also  checked their ZIP code on NASA's map  to see when the eclipse was to reach them if they were on, or near, the path of totality — or if they saw a partial eclipse instead.

How much of the eclipse did people see if they live outside the totality path?

While the April 8 eclipse covered a wide swath of the U.S., outside the path of totality observers may have spotted a partial eclipse, where the moon covers some, but not all, of the sun, according to NASA. The closer they were to the path of totality, the larger the portion of the sun that was hidden.

NASA allowed viewers to input a ZIP code and see how much of the sun was to be covered in their locations.

Could there be cloud cover be during the solar eclipse?

Some areas along the path of totality had a higher likelihood of cloud cover that could interfere with viewing the eclipse. Here is a map showing the historical trends in cloud cover this time of year. 

You could have checked the latest forecast for your location with our partners at The Weather Channel .

Where did the solar eclipse reach totality for the longest?

Eclipse viewers near Torreón, Mexico, got to experience totality for the longest. Totality there lasted 4 minutes, 28 seconds, according to NASA. 

Most places along the centerline of the path of totality saw a totality duration of between 3.5 and 4 minutes, according to NASA. Some places in the U.S. came close to the maximum; Kerrville, Texas, had a totality duration of 4 minutes, 24 seconds.

What is the path of totality for the 2044 solar eclipse?

The next total solar eclipse that will be visible from the contiguous U.S. will be on Aug. 23, 2044.

Astronomy fans in the U.S. will have far fewer opportunities to see the 2044 eclipse they had on April 8. NASA has not yet made maps available for the 2044 eclipse but, according to The Planetary Society , the path of totality will only touch three states.

The 2024 eclipse will start in Greenland, pass over Canada and end as the sun sets in Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota, according to the Planetary Society.

Aliza Chasan is a digital producer at 60 Minutes and CBSNews.com. She has previously written for outlets including PIX11 News, The New York Daily News, Inside Edition and DNAinfo. Aliza covers trending news, often focusing on crime and politics.

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