In the terminal's information booth, jokes come almost as frequently as the 1,000 questions they receive each hour. The booth also has a secret: a covert spiral staircase leading to the lower level.
But that's just one of the gems in the iconic 49-acre terminal that serves 750,000 people a day.
The terminal was almost knocked down in the 1960s but was saved thanks to Jackie Kennedy Onassis who took the landmark preservation fight all the way to the Supreme Court.
Still, it needed plenty of work. Between 1996 and 1998, a half-billion-dollar restoration project brought Grand Central back to its original splendor. Perhaps one of the most cherished items in the original design was the massive Tiffany clock.
The historic terminal has also kept with the times. It is home to a state-of-the-art operations control center and a pretty elaborate lost and found.
People who work here say they love this mix of old and new.
Saturday, May 18 2013 8:06 AM EDT2013-05-18 12:06:18 GMT
Two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn., in between the Fairfield and Bridgeport stations. At least 60 people have been hurt, the governor said.
Two Metro-North trains collided around 6 p.m. in Fairfield, Conn., in between the Fairfield and Bridgeport stations. At least 60 people have been hurt, the governor said.
Friday, May 17 2013 9:35 AM EDT2013-05-17 13:35:33 GMT
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Danbury's police chief says four officers have violated the city's police rules governing rudeness and civility during a routine traffic stop and that the matter has been referred to state prosecutors.
Friday, May 17 2013 7:05 AM EDT2013-05-17 11:05:50 GMT
Thirty-seven claims have been filed in federal court in Newark over the crash of a commuter ferry in New York City that left dozens of passengers injured.
Thirty-seven claims have been filed in federal court in Newark over the crash of a commuter ferry in New York City that left dozens of passengers injured.
Thursday, May 16 2013 6:47 PM EDT2013-05-16 22:47:54 GMT
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
The MTA and Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that the A train subway will run its route all the way to the Rockaways starting May 30, seven months after Superstorm Sandy washed away the track support bed.
Thursday, May 16 2013 1:36 PM EDT2013-05-16 17:36:00 GMT
A water taxi struck a dock at Pier A and Battery Park Place in Manhattan on Thursday, according to FDNY officials. Two people suffered minor injuries. They refused medical attention.
A water taxi struck a dock at Pier A and Battery Park Place in Manhattan on Thursday, according to FDNY officials. Two people suffered minor injuries. They refused medical attention.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 11:08 PM EDT2013-05-16 03:08:35 GMT
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
A judge in Manhattan put the brakes on the so-called Taxi of Tomorrow because the Nissan-built minivan does not come in a hybrid version -- a violation of the city code.
Wednesday, May 15 2013 7:19 AM EDT2013-05-15 11:19:02 GMT
New approaches are needed to combat drunken driving, which claims the lives of more than a third of the people killed annually on U.S highways
New approaches are needed to combat drunken driving, which claims the lives of more than a third of the people killed annually on U.S highways and has remained stubbornly high for the past decade and a half, a new report said.
Monday, May 13 2013 6:48 PM EDT2013-05-13 22:48:44 GMT
The Citi Bike bicycle share program funded by Citibank and run by the city starts May 2, 2013, Memorial Day. 250 CitiBike stations have been plopped down in Manhattan south of 60th Street and in Brooklyn.
The Citi Bike bicycle share program funded by Citibank and run by the city starts May 2, 2013, Memorial Day. 250 CitiBike stations have been plopped down in Manhattan south of 60th Street and in Brooklyn.
Monday, May 13 2013 1:33 PM EDT2013-05-13 17:33:34 GMT
One person was killed and four injured in an early morning crash at the Willamsburg Bridge. A 21-year-old woman was ejected from the backseat of the vehicle and was pronounced dead on the scene of the one-vehicle crash.
One person was killed and four injured in an early morning crash at the Willamsburg Bridge. A 21-year-old woman was ejected from the backseat of the vehicle and was pronounced dead on the scene of the one-vehicle crash.
