THE HISTORY OF GRAND CENTRAL STATION
Grand Central Terminal is one of the most historic landmarks in New York City.
In 1869, “Commodore” Cornelius Vanderbilt bought the property between Forty-second and Forty-eight streets to build a new train depot for the Hudson River Railroad, which he over took in 1863. It shared an East side terminal and named Grand Central Depot. This depot was designed by architect John B. Snook, and opened in 1871. The purpose was to serve as three rail lines, the New York Central and Hudson River Railroad, New York and Harlem Railroad, and the New York, New Haven, and Hartford Railroad. There were Alot renovations done between 1898 -1900 to expand and further renovate interior designed by architects Bradford Lee Gilbert and Samuel Huckel, Jr.
The reconstructed Grand Central Depot was renamed “Grand Central Station. In 1902, the increasing railroad traffic and the smoke from the steam engines clouded pedestrians’ view that resulted in 17 accidental deaths. The public’s protest then outlawed steam engines in Manhattan. In 1903 the winners of the best proposal for the new Grand Central, were the firm of Reed and Stem in collaboration with Warren and Wetmore. Yet the real architectural genius of detail and Beaux-Art style became Warren’s and Wetmore’s. In 1913 the construction of Grand Central Terminal was completed at a cost of 80 million dollars, paying special attention to the circulation of traffic and special elevated ramps, which led pedestrians and cars to their destinations.
