Grand Central Terminal: Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour

Things to do on the Tour Include:

• Welcome/Introduction

  Your tour of Grand Central Terminal begins just outside the terminal itself. This journey will take your through this enormous, historic station and introduce you to history and details most visitors never know about!

• 42nd Street Sculpture and Clock

  Visible from outside the terminal, "The Glory of Commerce" sculpture stands proudly atop the roof of Grand Central Terminal. It depicts three figures from Roman mythology, each with a specific meaning. Directly beneath it is a clock made of Tiffany glass.

• Vanderbilt Hall

  Vanderbilt Hall is the first area you'll emerge into upon entering the station. It is named for the Vanderbilt family, who were behind the construction of Grand Central Terminal. Today, it's also home to the Great Northern Food Hall, full of all sorts of edible goodies.

• Main Concourse Summary

  The Main Concourse is simply breathtaking. A positively cavernous space with an impossibly high ceiling, buzzing with activity day and night. All the marble and gold trim harkens back to the Gilded Age, which you'll hear all about as you enter this impressive space.

• The Information Booth & Clock

  Some of Grand Central Terminal's coolest parts are also the most humble, such as the Information Booth within the Main Concourse. This booth hides a spiral staircase which allows clerks to move between floors, as well as to a secret break room. As for the famous clock, some claim its face is made from real opal!

• The Ticket Windows

  The ticket windows might not look like much, but if you look carefully you can spot subtle symbols alluding to the wealth and status of the Vanderbilts. Just keep your eyes open for acorns and oak leaves!

• The Sky Ceiling

  The Sky Ceiling is likely the terminal's most impressive feature. Painted a cerulean blue and decorated with an immense mural of the Zodiac constellations, this vaulted ceiling is unlike any other. As you follow the string of constellations, you'll hear all about the fascinating myths behind each and every one.

• The Chandeliers

  Weighing in at 2,500 pounds and illuminated by 150 bulbs, the chandeliers in Grand Central Terminal are no laughing matter. They're even more impressive if you consider that in 1913, when the terminal was constructed, electricity in buildings was still quite a new phenomenon!

• The Walls of Glass

  These staggeringly huge walls of glass aren't just for show. If you watch them closely, you'll see terminal employees walking along catwalks within those walls! These also have some really interesting World War II history which you'll discover.

• The West Staircase

  Crafted from pink marble and modeled after the staircases of the Paris Opera House, this is no ordinary staircase. In fact, it's more like a work of art that just so happens to also function as stairs!

• The Station Master’s Office

  Humble and unassuming, the Station Master's Office is the real heart of the terminal. This is where the Station Master and their assistants make sure all the trains run on time and nothing goes haywire.

• The New York Transit Museum

  This small museum is a lovely glimpse into the history of New York Transit. It features a fleet of old-fashioned train cars, maps of now-abandoned tunnels, and all sorts of fascinating odds and ends. If you're a train enthusiast, this is the perfect place for you.

• Whispering Gallery

  You might notice people clustered in the corners of the so-called Whispering Gallery. That's because, by a strange fluke of the architecture, words whispered into one corner can be heard clearly from the opposite corner. It's always good for a bit of fun, so don't be afraid to give it a try!

• Oyster Bar

  This astonishingly lavish bar dates back to the construction of the terminal. With its opulent, Gilded Age aesthetic, it's the perfect place to lounge in luxury. There's a reason The Oyster Bar has been featured in shows like Mad Men! As you continue toward the end of the tour, you'll also hear about a fire which nearly spelled the end of this historic establishment, as well as how it was saved.