GRAND CENTRAL STATION

New York, NY

Grand Central Station is a commuter rail terminal located in Midtown Manhattan. It covers 48 acres and has 44 platforms, more than any other railroad station in the world. Its platforms are in in 10 levels below grade. In total, there are 67 tracks, including the rail yard and sidings. It was built by and named for the New York Central Railroad, serving the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad and, later, successor to the New York Central. Opened in 1913, the terminal was built on the site of two similarly named predecessor stations, the first of which dated to 1871. It served intercity trains until 1991, when Amtrak began routing its trains through nearby Penn Station. The terminal is the third-busiest train station in North America, after New York Penn Station and Toronto Union Station.

The distinctive architecture and interior design of Grand Central Station have earned it several landmark designations, including being a National Historic Landmark. Its Beaux-Arts design incorporates numerous works of art. It is one of the world's ten most-visited tourist attractions, with 21.6 million annual visitors, not counting train and subway passengers. The terminal's 35,000 square foot Main Concourse (this sketch subject) is used as a meeting place, and has been featured in film and television. During business hours, it is filled