Grand Central Terminal
An iconic landmark in New York City, Grand Central Terminal, also popularly called Grand Central Station , is located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue in Midtown Manhattan. It is the largest passenger terminal in the world, spread over an area of 48 acres, with 44 platforms and 67 tracks. The tracks are split over two levels, with 41 tracks on the upper level and 26 tracks on the lower level. The terminal is owned by Midtown TDR Ventures and leased to the Metro-North Railroad . The construction of the original Grand Central Terminal was initiated by the railroad baron Cornelius Vanderbilt. Opened in 1871, rebuilt in 1913, and refurbished from 1994-2000, the Grand Central Terminal is the vibrant heart of New York City.
Apart from being a key hub of transportation, Grand Central Terminal is also known for its architectural splendor, restaurants, and shopping outlets. The Main Concourse is a huge 84 m long, 37 m wide and 38 m high. Described as “the world’s loveliest station”, though packed with crowds, it provides the space for people to meet and greet each other, say hellos and goodbyes, and begin and end relationships, as portrayed in numerous movies and television serials. The main information booth in the centre of the concourse, with its four-faced clock perched on top, is the most well-known landmark in the Grand Central Terminal. Grand Central Terminal is listed on the US National Register of Historic Places and was declared a US National Historic Landmark in 1976.
The travel magazine Travel + Leisure in a survey in October 2011 found that it is the world’s sixth most-visited tourist attraction, with about 21,600,000 travelers visiting it annually. With five major lines passing through the station (Hudson Line, Harlem Line, New Haven Line, New Canaan Branch Line, and Danbury Branch Line) Grand Central Terminal is the lifeline on which commuters travel to New York City every day for work, leisure, business or pleasure.
Tourist attractions of Grand Central Terminal :
The Grand Central Terminal is indeed very central. Many of the landmarks and tourist attractions in New York City are near the Grand Central Terminal. Some of the nearby attractions that you can visit are: Chrysler Building, 9/11 Memorial , Empire State Building, Brooklyn Bridge, Central Park, Lincoln Center, American Museum of Natural History, Bronx Zoo, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Brooklyn Museum, and Ellis Island.
Visitor Experience at Grand Central Terminal:
Maps of World visited the Grand Central Terminal in September 2013. You can read about our impressions and view our exclusive pictures of the Grand Central New York trip here. We invite you to share your visitor experience, comment and share your thoughts on Grand Central Terminal on our blog.
Facts about Grand Central Terminal
Address | 87 E 42nd St, Park Avenue, New York, NY 10017 |
Coordinates | 40°45′10.08″N 73°58′35.48″W |
County | New York County |
Neighborhood | Midtown, Manhattan |
Covers an area | 48 acres |
Built | 1871 |
Rebuilt | 1913, 1994-2000 |
Opened | February 2, 1913 |
Platforms | 44 |
Tracks | 67 |
Station Code | GCT |
Area code | 212 |
ZIP Code | 10017 |