Slide Shows | Technology

Grand Central Terminal: The Centenary. A Look Back in Scientific American's Archives [Slide Show]

The new railroad terminal was heralded as the "Gateway to America's Greatest City" when it opened on February 1, 1913

  • Share
  • Email
  •  1 of 10  
A RENDERING OF GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, 1912:
thumb: A RENDERING OF GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, 1912:

A RENDERING OF GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, 1912:

This color drawing is titled “A Monumental Gateway to America’s Greatest City” and it shows how the new terminal would look when it opened....[More]

BUILDING GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, 1912:
thumb: BUILDING GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, 1912:

BUILDING GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, 1912:

The old Grand Central Station was still being used by commuters--up to 100,000 every day, so it had to be torn down in small sections over a ten-year period as the new station was being built....[More]

THE WORK IN PROGRESS, 1912:
thumb: THE WORK IN PROGRESS, 1912:

THE WORK IN PROGRESS, 1912:

This photograph of the façade--the outside of the new Grand Central Terminal--shows the architectural style of the building (a neoclassical “Beaux Arts” style) as it was still being built....[More]

HEROIC SCULPTURE ON THE FAÇADE, 1914:
thumb: HEROIC SCULPTURE ON THE FAÇADE, 1914:

HEROIC SCULPTURE ON THE FAÇADE, 1914:

The sculpture group and the clock on the south side of the building overlooking 42nd Street is almost 50 feet tall. It shows the Roman god Mercury standing between Hercules and Minerva, symbolizing speed, strength and wisdom....[More]

PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE EXPRESS CONCOURSE, 1912:
thumb: PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE EXPRESS CONCOURSE, 1912:

PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE EXPRESS CONCOURSE, 1912:

This noble design for the most important part of the terminal was designed with grand proportions and finished in very expensive Botticino marble....[More]

PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE GREAT WAITING ROOM, 1912:
thumb: PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE GREAT WAITING ROOM, 1912:

PROSPECTIVE VIEW OF THE GREAT WAITING ROOM, 1912:

European palaces had fancy rooms and chandeliers for their royal families. In the young United States of 1912, the ideals of Progress and Modernity were given the royal treatment with their own impressive rooms....[More]

CROSS-SECTION DRAWING OF TRAIN AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, 1912:
thumb: CROSS-SECTION DRAWING OF TRAIN AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, 1912:

CROSS-SECTION DRAWING OF TRAIN AND PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC, 1912:

The station was designed to be impressive. No less difficult was the sheer scale of the number of people who had to move through the station every day from commuter rail lines and subway lines....[More]

CROSS-SECTION DRAWING OF INTERCONNECTIONS, 1912:
thumb: CROSS-SECTION DRAWING OF INTERCONNECTIONS, 1912:

CROSS-SECTION DRAWING OF INTERCONNECTIONS, 1912:

You can get a sense of the scale of the soaring ceilings and grand proportions of the building, and also how the different parts of the building were connected with local and regional transport....[More]

ADVERTISEMENT CELEBRATING THE NEW TERMINAL, 1912:
thumb: ADVERTISEMENT CELEBRATING THE NEW TERMINAL, 1912:

ADVERTISEMENT CELEBRATING THE NEW TERMINAL, 1912:

The New York Central Lines railroad company had regular train service running between New York and Chicago. Their advertisement shows they wanted to be closely associated with the new railroad terminal and its symbolism of modernity and progress....[More]

PANORAMA OF THE GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, NEW YORK, 1912:
thumb: PANORAMA OF THE GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, NEW YORK, 1912:

PANORAMA OF THE GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL, NEW YORK, 1912:

This drawing (it looks like a photograph, but it’s a  drawing) of the new Grand Central Terminal was drawn for Scientific American by Chicago-based architectural illustrator Jules Guerin....[More]

risk free title graphic

YES! Send me a free issue of Scientific American with no obligation to continue the subscription. If I like it, I will be billed for the one-year subscription.

cover image
ADVERTISEMENT

2 Comments

Add Comment
View
  1. 1. G. Karst 03:04 PM 12/2/12

    You should not pretend, that the sci-am then... is anything closely resembling, the advocacy of the sciam today. GK

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
  2. 2. verdai 03:35 PM 2/7/13

    Fine building .
    Nice sky -

    Reply | Report Abuse | Link to this
Leave this field empty

Add a Comment

You must sign in or register as a ScientificAmerican.com member to submit a comment.
Click one of the buttons below to register using an existing Social Account.
Advertisement

Email this Article

X
Scientific American Magazine

Subscribe Today

Save 66% off the cover price and get a free gift!

Learn More >>

X

Please Log In

Forgot: Password

X

Account Linking

Welcome, . Do you have an existing ScientificAmerican.com account?

Yes, please link my existing account with for quick, secure access.



Forgot Password?

No, I would like to create a new account with my profile information.

Create Account
X

Report Abuse

Are you sure?

X

Institutional Access

It has been identified that the institution you are trying to access this article from has institutional site license access to Scientific American on nature.com. To access this article in its entirety through site license access, click below.

Site license access
X

Error

X

Share this Article

X