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Penn Station

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These lovely pictures will make you long for Penn Station's glory days.Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

It's hard to believe that Manhattan's Pennsylvania Station was once a masterpiece of pink granite, marble columns, and arched-glass windows.

In 1963, the above-ground portion of the station was demolished to make room for a massive sports arena, Madison Square Garden. Its reputation as an architectural masterpiece quickly faded. And most recently several incidents have boosted the station's reputation as a subterranean hellscape.

A train derailment in April that spawned mass cancellations outraged travelers. Later in the month, stampedes and false rumors of an active shooter rippled through Penn after police tased a man. Then, in early May, foul-smelling sewage water rained down on commuters from the ceiling.

Amtrak's long overdue rail repairs threaten to worsen a headache for the 650,000 people who travel through Penn Station each day. 

But things were not always this bad.

Take a look at these photos of the original Penn Station, one of the last structures of neo-classical architecture in New York City, before it was torn down. 

The original Pennsylvania Station stood from 1910 until its destruction in 1963.

The original Pennsylvania Station stood from 1910 until its destruction in 1963.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

The station was named for the now-defunct Pennsylvania Railroad, the company that built it. For that same reason, there are also Pennsylvania Stations in cities like Newark and Baltimore.

The station was named for the now-defunct Pennsylvania Railroad, the company that built it. For that same reason, there are also Pennsylvania Stations in cities like Newark and Baltimore.
Internet Archive Book Images/Flickr

Construction on the Beaux-Arts-style marvel began in 1901 and took nine years to complete. It was designed by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, which also built Columbia University's campus.

Construction on the Beaux-Arts-style marvel began in 1901 and took nine years to complete. It was designed by the renowned architectural firm McKim, Mead & White, which also built Columbia University's campus.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

The designers envisioned the station as the “entrance to one of the great metropolitan cities of the world.”

The designers envisioned the station as the “entrance to one of the great metropolitan cities of the world.”
Internet Archive Book Images/Flickr

Source: Columbia University

The station spanned two city blocks, stretching from Seventh to Eighth Avenue between 31st Street and 33rd Street.

The station spanned two city blocks, stretching from Seventh to Eighth Avenue between 31st Street and 33rd  Street.
John Lent/AP

Source: "Passenger Terminals and Trains" by John Albert Droege

The Roman Baths of Caracalla inspired the building's classical design. Just look at those arched windows and Corinthian columns.

The Roman Baths of Caracalla inspired the building's classical design. Just look at those arched windows and Corinthian columns.
Library of Congress

 

 

By the 1920s, two thirds of the station's daily passengers were commuters from the suburbs.

By the 1920s, two thirds of the station's daily passengers were commuters from the suburbs.
Wikimedia Commons

Source: PBS

 

The station also had trains heading out to Chicago and St. Louis.

The station also had trains heading out to Chicago and St. Louis.
Wikimedia Commons

Like today, the old Penn Station was a chaotic transport hub at times.

Like today, the old Penn Station was a chaotic transport hub at times.
Harry Harris/AP

Here's a shot of the holiday rush in 1951.

Here's a shot of the holiday rush in 1951.
John Rooney/AP

But instead of slogging through smelly underground tunnels, travelers got to walk through beautiful, sunlit spaces like this waiting room.

But instead of slogging through smelly underground tunnels, travelers got to walk through beautiful, sunlit spaces like this waiting room.
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

 

 

Part of the building's iconic ceiling was made from glass and wrought-iron.

Part of the building's iconic ceiling was made from glass and wrought-iron.
New York Public Library/Flickr
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The giant clock in the Great Gate room kept travelers on time.

The giant clock in the Great Gate room kept travelers on time.
Library of Congress

In the main waiting room, a bronze statue of Pennsylvania Railroad president Alexander Johnston Cassatt watched over travelers.

In the main waiting room, a bronze statue of Pennsylvania Railroad president Alexander Johnston Cassatt watched over travelers.
Wikimedia Commons

In the 1930s, a Greyhound bus station also popped up around the station.

In the 1930s, a Greyhound bus station also popped up around the station.
Wikimedia Commons

Railroad travel peaked during WWII, and Penn Station was no exception to that surge. But by the 1950s, travel had declined and the station became derelict and grimy due to neglect and the Pennsylvania Railroad's financial woes.

Railroad travel peaked during WWII, and Penn Station was no exception to that surge. But by the 1950s, travel had declined and the station became derelict and grimy due to neglect and the Pennsylvania Railroad's financial woes.
Library of Congress

Source: American Rails

The Pennsylvania Railroad ended up optioning the station's air rights in the 1950s. The above-ground structures would be replaced by Madison Square Garden, while the underground portion of the station would remain.

The Pennsylvania Railroad ended up optioning the station's air rights in the 1950s. The above-ground structures would be replaced by Madison Square Garden, while the underground portion of the station would remain.
Library of Congress

Sources: Mashable, NYC Architecture

The new developments caught the public off guard in 1961, when the news appeared in the New York Times. Protests were mounted against the destruction of the landmark building, but the demolition proceeded in October 1963.

The new developments caught the public off guard in 1961, when the news appeared in the New York Times. Protests were mounted against the destruction of the landmark building, but the demolition proceeded in October 1963.
Marty Lederhandler/AP

Source: The New York Times

"Until the first blow fell, no one was convinced that Penn Station really would be demolished, or that New York would permit this monumental act of vandalism against one of the largest and finest landmarks of its age of Roman elegance," wrote the New York Times's editorial board.

"Until the first blow fell, no one was convinced that Penn Station really would be demolished, or that New York would permit this monumental act of vandalism against one of the largest and finest landmarks of its age of Roman elegance," wrote the New York Times's editorial board.
Anonymous/AP

Sources: "Rubble: Unearthing the History of Demolition" by Jeff Byles, The New York Times, Life Without Buildings, NYC Architecture

"We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed," the New York Times's editorial board wrote on October 30, 1963.

"We will probably be judged not by the monuments we build but by those we have destroyed," the New York Times's editorial board wrote on October 30, 1963.
Wikimedia Commons

Source: The New York Times

Today, only remnants of the old Penn Station structure survive, like this eagle statue.

Today, only remnants of the old Penn Station structure survive, like this eagle statue.
Wikimedia Commons

Sources: NYC Architecture, Museum of the City of New York

The demolition of the landmark train station ended up being one of the defining moments in the history of architectural preservation in the US. Two years after Penn Station was razed, New York City founded its Landmarks Preservation Commission.

The demolition of the landmark train station ended up being one of the defining moments in the history of architectural preservation in the US. Two years after Penn Station was razed, New York City founded its Landmarks Preservation Commission.
Ewing Galloway / Stringer / Getty Images

Source: Museum of the City of New York

That preservation committee went on to help maintain Grand Central's majestic look, which now stands in direct opposition to the modern iteration of Penn Station. As New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman writes, "To pass through Grand Central Terminal, one of New York’s exalted public spaces, is an ennobling experience, a gift. To commute via the bowels of Penn Station, just a few blocks away, is a humiliation."

That preservation committee went on to help maintain Grand Central's majestic look, which now stands in direct opposition to the modern iteration of Penn Station. As New York Times architecture critic Michael Kimmelman writes, "To pass through Grand Central Terminal, one of New York’s exalted public spaces, is an ennobling experience, a gift. To commute via the bowels of Penn Station, just a few blocks away, is a humiliation."
Library of Congress

Source: The New York Times

In the decades since the demolition, Penn Station's usage has increased once more. The New York Times estimates that Penn Station is the busiest transit hub in the Western world — busier than Heathrow Airport in London and Newark, La Guardia, and Kennedy airports in the New York City metro area combined.

In the decades since the demolition, Penn Station's usage has increased once more. The New York Times estimates that Penn Station is the busiest transit hub in the Western world — busier than Heathrow Airport in London and Newark, La Guardia, and Kennedy airports in the New York City metro area combined.
Hulton Archive / Stringer / Getty Images

Source: The New York Times

To this day, many people lament the destruction of the once-great Manhattan transport hub. As Yale professor Vincent Scully, Jr. told the New York Times in 2012, “One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat.”

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To this day, many people lament the destruction of the once-great Manhattan transport hub. As Yale professor Vincent Scully, Jr. told the New York Times in 2012, “One entered the city like a god; one scuttles in now like a rat.”
Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division