Grand Central Terminal at 100

Travelers crossed the main concourse of Grand Central Terminal in New York, as seen from a bird’s eye view through a window near the ceiling. The country’s most famous trains station and one of the finest examples of Beaux Arts architecture in America turns 100 on Feb. 1. Its centennial comes 15 years after a triumphant renovation that removed decades of grime and decay.

People paused in front of the Apple store’s logo on the balcony at Grand Central Terminal. It was saved from the wrecking ball by conservationists led by Jacqueline Onassis, and the renovated terminal is one of the most-visited buildings in the world, attracting 200,000 tourists and shoppers daily.

In this file photo from July 7, 1957, a 63-foot Redstone missile is hoisted into position for display in New York’s Grand Central Terminal. To this day, there is a hole in the ceiling near a gold-leaf depiction of the constellation of Pisces that marks the spot where cables secured the rocket ship for dislplay.

It’s a well-kept secret that the departure times on the board in of Grand Central Terminal’s main concourse are posted one minute earlier than the trains actually leave to make sure passengers are board in time for the train’s departure.

Built by the Vanderbilts, railroad barons and industrialists who were among America’s richest and most powerful families, track entrances are adorned by acorns and oak leaf clusters, the family’s symbols.

The mythological figures Hercules, Mercury, and Minerva adorn the main facade of Grand Central Terminal, part of a sculptural group created by Jules Alexis.

Workers keep an eye on train traffic coming and going at Grand Central Terminal from a master control room high atop the building.

Passengers disembarked from a train and passed a sign advertising the 100th anniversary.

A woman checked the board for her train’s departure time after purchasing a railway ticket.

The famous opalescent clock keeps time at the center of the main concourse.

Passengers disembarked from a Metro-North Railroad car after it pulled into Grand Central Terminal.

A woman looked up from the main concourse at the celestial display painted on the ceiling.

David Herring assisted travelers with their train’s track number from his post inside the information booth at the center of the main concourse.

Metro-North Railroad and New Haven line conductor Louis Caputo posed for a photograph while waiting for his shift to begin.

The facade of Grand Central Terminal is shown from 41st street and Park Avenue in New York.

An employee of The Oyster Bar laid out a plate of freshly chucked oysters.

A server worked beneath the tiled and vaulted ceilings at The Oyster Bar.