Discover the Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts About Grand Central Station: Unveiling Its Hidden Secrets!

1. Whispering Gallery Surprises

Next time you're in New York, don't miss the chance to whisper sweet nothings across a bustling terminal and surprise your fellow travelers: Grand Central Terminal has a secret whispering gallery where whispers from one corner can be heard clear as day at the diagonally opposite corner, thanks to the crazy acoustic quirks created by the arched ceiling and tiled walls of this iconic landmark!
Source => thecampbellnyc.com

2. FDR's Secret Train on Track 61

All aboard the FDR Express, where presidential transport meets ghostly dog tales: In New York's Grand Central Terminal lies the secret Track 61, which was once used by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt for covert travels to the Waldorf Astoria hotel. FDR's train featured armored plating, bullet-proof glass, and a custom-made elevator for his Pierce-Arrow limousine. Even his ghost-seeking Scottish Terrier, Fala, frequently traveled with him and is said to still wander the station looking for his beloved master.
Source => 6sqft.com

Did you know there's an annual race to climb 1,576 steps to the Empire State Building's 86th-floor observatory? Discover this adrenaline-pumping event and the building's impressive speedy elevators!

=> Fun Facts about The-Empire-State-Building

3. Mismatched Celestial Ceiling

When stars align – or rather, misalign: Grand Central Terminal's celestial ceiling underwent a cosmic makeover in 1945, retaining the original's backward orientation, adopting simplified constellations based on Bayer engravings, and adding the "out-of-this-world" Triangulum Minus – which never existed in the first place!
Source => untappedcities.com

4. Grand Central's Acoustic Game

Ever thought of playing a game of telephone across a room without a single wire (and no, we're not talking about mobile phones)? Look no further than Grand Central Terminal's very own game-changer: the Whispering Gallery. This acoustic marvel, located at the intersection of its lower-level walkways, lets visitors hear the faintest of whispers from corner to corner, all thanks to the perfect arches and meticulous tile work by Spanish tile worker Rafael Guastavino. And if you ever find yourself at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, be sure to check out their whispering wonder too!
Source => atlasobscura.com

5. Backwards Zodiac Guide

Next time you gaze at the stars, don't forget to consult Grand Central Terminal's backwards zodiac guide, specifically designed for divine beings commuting, just in case Zeus happens to catch the 5:15 to Mount Olympus: Inside the Main Concourse, you'll find a zodiac ceiling adorned with 12 gold-leaf constellations, 2500 stars, and a tiny, dark patch near Cancer that reveals the pre-restoration, nicotine and tar-stained surface from the smoke-filled days of yore.
Source => grandcentralterminal.com

6. Da Vinci of Debt Art Installation

Hold on to your diplomas, folks, because college debt just got fancier: From January 14-16, 2021, an art installation called 'Da Vinci of Debt' graced Grand Central Terminal's Vanderbilt Hall, featuring 2,600 real college diplomas to showcase the monumental impact of college debt. Created by Natural Light Beer, this tongue-in-cheek masterpiece, dubbed the world's most expensive artwork, was a visual juxtaposition of distressing debt and high society – making student loans one for the history books. Visit Naturallight.com/DaVinciofDebt to catch a glimpse of this ingenious and ironic art installation.
Source => amny.com

7. Grand Central's Nine Lives

Grand Central Terminal, aka the cat with nine lives, flirted dangerously with its own ultimate demise not once, but twice: In the 1950s and 1970s, proposals were set in motion to tear down this legendary feline of railway hubs, but luckily, they were averted. The station was granted several official landmark designations and underwent fur-tastic renovations in the 1990s to retain its timeless charm, swishing its tail proudly amid the bustle of Midtown Manhattan.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

8. Hidden Tennis Love Affair

Whoever said "love means nothing in tennis" clearly never set foot in Grand Central Station, the surprising rallying point for racket-wielding romantics: Hidden on its 4th floor lies the Vanderbilt Tennis Club, a public facility since 1993, where skilled coaches offer various programs like private lessons, cardio tennis, and junior training sessions, complete with an online store for all your tennis needs.
Source => vanderbilttennisclub.com