The Grand Central Terminal in New York City is the largest train station in the world by area and the number of platforms.
The station spans a whopping 49 acres, with 44 platforms and 67 tracks across two levels.
Over 750,000 people pass through Grand Central every day, and that number soars past a million during the holiday season.
The terminal’s Main Concourse is a focal point and features an opal glass clock at its Information Booth, valued at an astonishing £15million.
The clock consists of four faces made from precious opal, and the area below it is a popular meeting point.
The station was built in 1913 and is known for its architecture. The ceiling of the Main Concourse features a mural of the Mediterranean winter sky painted with 2,500 stars.
Interestingly, the sky mural is said to have been depicted from God’s point of view, which means that the constellations are upside down.
The terminal’s design also includes other elegant details. The Main Lobby has 10 chandeliers, each decorated with gold and holding 110 light bulbs.
Throughout Grand Central, acorns and oak leaves – symbols of the Vanderbilt family who built the terminal – are carved into the stonework and fixtures.
Outside, visitors can also find a Tiffany glass clock, which measures 13 feet across.
Another quirky attraction is the whispering gallery near the Oyster Bar, where the unique acoustics allow a person’s voice to be heard clearly across the concourse.
This hidden gem attracts visitors who are curious to test out the “whisper effect.”
The terminal is also home to the Vanderbilt Tennis Club. The court is located on the fourth floor, where visitors can play a game while waiting for their trains.
And if you lose something at the terminal, there’s a good chance you’ll get it back.
This is because the Grand Central’s lost-and-found department handles around 50,000 items each year and has one of the highest return rates in the US.
However, the station has seen its share of ups and downs.
In the mid-20th century, as flying and driving became more popular, plans emerged to replace the station with a skyscraper.
But thanks to preservation efforts, the station was saved and later underwent a major renovation in the 1990s.
