How did the architecture of the ancient world, such as the Baths of Caracalla, and the interpretation of Beaux-Arts influence the design of Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station?
Listen in as Keriann and Frances explore the inspiration behind the designs of two of the most beautiful monuments that have ever graced the streets of New York City.
Related Documents
Although the video was mostly of experts discussing Grand Central and not about how it was physically formed like the documentary on Penn Station, I actually enjoyed how the men spoke about GCT. It was great hearing them reference facts that we learned from our tours (like the lowest basement floor N42, the operation control center, and the oyster bar) and getting more information about them. For example, we were given a glimpse of the lowest basement floor in all of Manhattan. The video also brought into perspective how Grand Central Terminal was different than Penn Station. Someone mentioned that what makes GCT so special is that it is a “constellation of three different buildings” whereas Penn Station was a standalone building. Grand Central is a “choreography of connection” with shops, transportation, and a place for the community to bustle about, not just a building for trains to arrive and depart at. I love those descriptions of Grand Central Terminal and it really just reiterates how important this monument is for our community.
I did not know that watching a documentation on the rise of Penn Station would cause me to feel so connected to the station. Alexander Cassatt’s vision of a seamless ride without the need of a ferry was so far-fetched and daunting yet he managed to build a station and the tunnels into New York City. In the video, we saw how sandhogs, the workers who risked their health and lives, created the tunnel in the Hudson River. When they mentioned that it took them 6 hours to place the ring segments but after experience, it took them 90 minutes, it made me think of how proud the workers must have been when they finally got the hang of it. The Penn Station monument itself was an amazing building and I’m sure made New Yorkers feel like their city was truly something special.
Four years of construction, fifty years of living, only to be destroyed because of money. Watching the complete destruction of Penn Station was so heartbreaking. It was destroyed because not enough people realized how important it was until it was torn down. Yes, it acts as a martyr for Grand Central Terminal and other buildings that were at risk of being destroyed but it didn’t need to be if enough people petitioned against it. There is no other monument like Penn Station in New York City and I feel so much regret that I was not able to see it in its glory.
Our visit to the archives was extremely interesting and one hour was not enough to browse through its offerings! Haley brought out files of photographs from the beginning of construction until the end of it (1913). She explained why the photographs differed–the blue, unclear photographs were made of a different, cheaper material (iron) and clearer ones could be made from platinum. We also got to see pamphlets and brochures from the time that gave us an idea of what was important enough to attract guests. What really caught my attention were the blueprints. There was one blueprint in particular that showed grand central terminal and all the buildings surrounding it. As Haley eloquently stated, this brings us back to the idea that the architects, engineers, and visionaries were not just creating a building but were creating a neighborhood which we consider “Terminal City.”
I also learned more about archival procedures. For example, archives reside in the basement because of the lack of windows and less humidity and it’s also imperative to wear gloves when handling items such as photographs. Sunlight, humidity, and the oil from our fingertips could damage these artifacts. Also, because we are using this for academic purposes and much of the artifacts were dated between 1923 and 1977 without copyright notice, our class is able to freely use the artifacts from the archive. This is called “fair use.” Haley also explained what the numbers on the various folders mean. An example is using “2010.20.26.10” 2010 is the year the artifact was given to the archive, 20 is the sub series number, 26 is the folder, and 10 is the collection of items that come along in that selection.
Overall, I really enjoyed our visit to the archives and hope to go back there again. There’s so much information stored in that basement and I feel like we just barely scratched the surface in the short hour we were there.
Some sources I took particular interest in are as follows:
From “The Gateway to A Continent. Grand Central Zone” Taken from WikiMedia Commons
“The Gateway to A Continent. Grand Central Zone” was published by New York in 1939. It is a pictorial spread that depicts beautiful illustrations of Grand Central Terminal and the surrounding buildings. I thought it was interesting because of the details pictures and also because it emphasized that the creating of Grand Central Terminal was the rebirth of New York City. As quoted from this source, it is a “new horizon of steel and stone” and GCT and the surrounding buildings create a “city within a city.”
“Landmarks Preservation” written by John Pyke, Jr., is a great read that argues why landmarks should be preserved, the history of landmark preservation, the New York Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the criteria for becoming a landmark/the rules. With Grand Central Terminal being a landmark and there having been a heavy dispute over keeping the building intact, I think this primary source would be excellent to use to understand the struggle over making it a landmark.
Some questions for further research to consider regarding archives and Grand Central Terminal are as follows:
The Bowery Boys are great hosts who produce informative information about New York City sites in a casual, engaging way. Their podcast on Grand Central Terminal relayed a lot of information already taught in class and during our tours such as the transitioning from a depot to a station to a terminal and the 1903 contest and the nepotism that occurred with Reed and Stem and Warren and Wetmore. I liked that they stated that Grand Central Terminal really created the shape of Manhattan and that it aided in the introduction of electricity in the city, which it did. They also placed emphasis on William Wilgus, who is an astounding and prominent chief engineer and made great changes to make the terminal what it is now–a bustling commuter center.
“Grand Central, Reborn as a Mall” by David W. Dunlap
In the New York Times article, “Grand Central, Reborn as a Mall,” dated August 2, 1998, David W. Dunlap discusses the new changes Grand Central Terminal had been undergoing at the time. He mentions at length the types of stores and restaurants that will be renting out retail space such as the more luxurious Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. to more everyday shops such as Banana Republic, Rite Aid, and Two Boots Pizza. He relays several quotes from retail tenants, executives, and average visitors that express nothing but excitement for these changes and he has mentioned anyone in disagreement towards these new additions to the terminal. Dunlap himself encourages these renovations and claims that despite commercializing Grand Central Terminal, it still retains its architectural beauty.
Dunlap, D. W. (1998, August 02). Grand Central, Reborn as a Mall. New York Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/109904187?accountid=28313
The William Wilgus finding aid is organized by giving us a brief overview of all the resource materials, summarizing his biography, and then outlining his works that have been divided into eight specific series. The finding aid describes Wilgus’ life as a civil engineer and the important project he worked on such as the Buffalo Union Station and the new Grand Central Terminal as a chief engineer of New York Central and Hudson River Railroad. It then mentions his life after opening up his own private practice and after that, his life devoted to research.
The division of his work into series is useful for researchers who are looking for specific documents relating to Wilgus’ works. For example, if a researcher was interested in Wilgus’ experience analyzing the French railroad for transportation in the U.S. during wartime, he or she would know to look in series II, “American Expeditionary Forces – Transportation Corps.” Also, if there is a specific document a researcher wants to see, the “detailed description” tab is available.
After enjoying our first two visits to Grand Central Terminal and learning general facts about the building, it was great hearing about specific architecture points from today’s tour guide, Anthony Robins. Supplemented with a handout that depicts structures in France and Rome, we learned about the inspiration (and blatant copying) Grand Central Terminal architects drew from known foreign structures. For example, the Pershing Square Viaduct is taken directly from Paris’ Alexander III Bridge. The arches that cover the terminal are also reminiscent of the Roman triumphal arch and other arches that demonstrate a city’s greatness. The staircases that covers the east and west wing are also taken from the French opera house and the statue of Hercules, Mercury, and Minerva above GCT’s clock are sculpted similarly to the statue on Alexander III Bridge (although this is also because it is from the same sculptor, Jules-Felix Coutan). I love discovering how artists draw inspiration from outside sources and how they incorporate their own interpretations.
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