The Grand Central Terminal

The Grand Central Terminal is one of the inescapable landmarks of New York. If you are in the Big Apple, you cannot possibly miss passing the Terminal on your way to other destinations here. The Grand Central Terminal is more than just a place where train lines originate and terminate. It’s an architectural marvel that amazes visitors with its Beaux-Arts beauty.

The façade of this terminal is truly impressive. On a fifty foot pediment stands statues of Mercury (God of Commerce), Minerva (virgin goddess of wisdom, medicine and the arts) and Hercules (the legendary Roman demi-god), while Corinthian columns flank the arches. The façade was designed by architect Whitney Warren in 1913; however, the group of statues was sculpted by Jules-Alexis Coutain.

If you are overwhelmed by the magnificence of the exteriors, be ready to be double wowed by the interiors. The Main Concourse can be best described as a vast expanse of space. The vaulted ceiling stands about 150 ft high and it was painted by the French artist Paul Helleu. The design of gilded stars and zodiac constellations spread over an evening sky is inspired by a medieval manuscript. This starry mural is one of the most famous features of the Grand Central Terminal. On closer inspection, you will notice that the zodiac signs on the ceiling are depicted backwards. The reason for this interesting depiction is that the painter wanted to paint the sky as seen by God, not by man.

The Grand Central is famous for yet another quirk that it houses – The Whispering Gallery. It is located near the Oyster Bar & Restaurant. If you stand in this gallery and whisper you will heard by people standing across from you or far from you. The acoustics of the ceramic arches makes it possible for your whisper to be magnified as the curve of the domed ceiling carries your voice from one point to the other. One can well imagine how this gallery must excite the imagination of people passing through it, and there are several pranks played on unsuspecting passersby by mischievous pranksters.

This year, you have one more reason to visit the Grand Central Terminal as the kaleidoscopic light display that thrilled people in 2005 is back to delight visitors again this year. This laser light show is an official kick off to the holiday season as there will be series of psychedelic shows every day, finally ending on New Year’s Day. Tourists and commuters will be treated to choreographed audio-visual display on the marble walls and painted ceiling of the Grand Central Terminal. These shows will be conducted at intervals of half an hour from 11 am to 9 pm.

With this laser light show, the busiest room in the world is about to get a lot busier now.

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