This year, Grand Central Terminal will celebrate two significant milestones that changed the course of history for the landmark building: the 40^th anniversary this June of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling that saved the Terminal and the 20^th anniversary this October of a renovation that restored the iconic landmark and transformed it into a retail and dining destination. The Terminal is marking these moments with a series of events, beginning with a 40^th anniversary photo installation and tastings from Grand Central shops and restaurants in June and capping off the celebration with an exhibit in September.

 

“Grand Central Terminal demonstrates the lasting benefits that come from investing in infrastructure,” said MTA Chairman Joseph J. Lhota. “This investment in a terminal that has become an international treasure connects its past to its future, as we are seeing with numerous infrastructure improvements happening all over the city, including at One Vanderbilt, the East Side Access project, and with Moynihan Station.”

 

June 26th marks 40 years since a Supreme Court ruling preserved the building’s historic landmark status and prohibited the construction of a 53-story office building overhead. The historic campaign to rescue Grand Central was led by several notable New Yorkers organized by the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS), including former First Lady and MAS Board Member Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, for whom the renovated main entry foyer on 42^nd Street and Park Avenue is named. By effectively saving the building, the ruling opened discussions to consider major improvements to Grand Central, which had been falling into disrepair. To celebrate the anniversary, Grand Central Terminal and New York Transit Museum are partnering with the Municipal Art Society of New York, which is celebrating its own milestone – 125 years of protecting and preserving the city’s legacy spaces and encouraging thoughtful planning and urban design. Grand Central will host an exhibit by the Municipal Art Society of New York reviewing 40 years of Grand Central history mid-September through mid-October in Vanderbilt Hall.

 

“MTA Metro-North Railroad is proud to serve as the steward for Grand Central Terminal, an iconic landmark that is recognized across the globe for its grandeur, historic significance and importance as a world class transportation hub,” said Metro-North President Catherine Rinaldi. “Every day, the majority of Metro-North Railroad’s customers and visitors from around the world pass through Grand Central Terminal. The Terminal is central to the lives of millions of people, offering not only safe, reliable, and convenient train service to customers, but premier shops, restaurants, and events.”

 

While the Supreme Court ruling saved the building, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s multi-phase restoration served as its rebirth. For the restoration, the MTA retained Beyer Blinder Belle as its architectural consultant to assist in returning the neglected building to its original grandeur. Significant renovations included the cleaning of the vaulted constellation ceiling and the building’s marble, a new Main Concourse East stairwell that appeared in the original design but had never been built, heating and air conditioning capabilities, and the development of quality restaurants, food vendors, and shops. The renewed Terminal officially reopened its doors to admirers, shoppers, and diners on October 1, 1998, and was celebrated with a Rededication Ceremony, marking the turning point of when the once grand building became a destination again. To celebrate the 20^th anniversary, Grand Central shops and restaurants will offer 1998 pricing on a number of products and menu items all day October 1.

 

“The Supreme Court decision to protect our history helped create a center of commerce that invites the public to appreciate and experience a landmark building, in a way like no other,” said Concetta Bencivenga, director of the New York Transit Museum. “Saving, maintaining and restoring New York’s history is as valuable as developing retail. With Grand Central, the two go hand-in-hand.”

 

To commemorate the past, present, and future of Grand Central, the public will be invited to participate in a series of events June through October. The events and activities underscore the Terminal’s impact on New York and its continued vitality as a treasured public space.

 

Anniversary events include:

 

“These anniversaries mark key turning points in the Terminal’s history. The campaign to save Grand Central ultimately saved New York’s Landmarks Law itself, and affirmed the constitutionality of preservation statutes nationwide,” said Elizabeth Goldstein, President of MAS. “The subsequent renovation and retail transformation of the Terminal is one of the most successful place-making investments in recent memory. Grand Central today is an extraordinary urban ecosystem all its own, attracting hundreds of thousands of commuters, tourists, and passersby every day.”

 

For more information on Grand Central Terminal, a timeline of history, then and now photos, and up-to-date information for this year’s events, please visit GCTcelebrates.com. For interviews and images on Grand Central’s history and legacy, as well as its shops and restaurants, please see contact information below.

 

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MTA Metro-North Railroad is the steward of Grand Central Terminal, which stands as one of America’s greatest transportation hubs and one of New York City’s most iconic buildings. It is both a national landmark and an international example of the success that can be achieved giving new life to a historic building that otherwise may have been destroyed. The Grand Central brand reflects the remarkable caliber of services in the Terminal, including boutique restaurants and cocktail lounges, a gourmet market, and many specialty shops. It draws more than 750,000 national and international visitors each day and wows them with its varied offerings and tour programs. Storied Vanderbilt Hall, once the waiting room for long-distance travelers, is among the most-desired public event spaces in the city.

 

About The New York Transit Museum:
The New York Transit Museum is the largest museum in the United States devoted to urban public transportation history and one of the premier institutions of its kind in the world. The Museum explores the development of the greater New York metropolitan region through the presentation of exhibitions, tours, educational programs and workshops dealing with the cultural, social and technological history of public transportation. Since its inception over forty years ago, the Museum – which is housed in a historic 1936 IND subway station in Downtown Brooklyn – has grown in scope and popularity. For nearly 25 years, the New York Transit Museum has also operated a Gallery Annex & Store in Grand Central Terminal. As custodian and interpreter of the region’s extensive public transportation networks, the Museum strives to share through its exhibits and public programs this rich and vibrant history with local, regional, and international audiences. To learn more, visit nytransitmuseum.org.

 

For 125 years, the Municipal Art Society of New York (MAS) has worked to educate and inspire New Yorkers to engage in the betterment of our city. As a non-profit advocacy organization, MAS mobilizes diverse allies to focus on issues that affect our city from sidewalk to skyline. Our advocacy efforts have led to the creation of the New York City Planning Commission, Public Design Commission, Landmarks Preservation Commission, and the Tribute in Light; the preservation of Grand Central Terminal, the lights of Times Square, and the Garment District; the conservation of more than 50 works of public art; and the founding of such civic organizations as the Public Art Fund, the New York—Landmarks Conservancy, P.S. 1, the Historic Districts Council, the Park Avenue Armory Conservancy, and the Waterfront Alliance. Through three core campaign areas, MAS protects New York’s legacy spaces, encourages thoughtful planning and urban design, and fosters inclusive neighborhoods across the five boroughs. For more information, visit mas.org.

 

Goodman Media International for Grand Central Terminal

212-576-2700, gct@goodmanmedia.com

 

Nancy Gamerman, Media Liaison for MTA Metro-North Railroad

212-878-4767, ngamerman@mtahq.org

 

Chelsea Newburg, Press & Marketing Strategist
The New York Transit Museum
718-694-4915, chelsea.newburg@nyct.com