Grand Central: Gateway to a Million Lives [Hardcover]

John Belle (Author), Maxinne R. Leighton (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 15, 1999

This is the story of Grand Central Terminal in New York City, a remarkable and beautiful building whose birth, survival, and restoration reflect the critical role architecture plays in the expansion of our cities.

It begins with the historic struggle to save Grand Central in the wake of the destruction of Penn Station and in the face of economic forces in the real estate industry that were intent on its demise. There follows a chronological history of the previous two stations on the site, the construction of the present building, text and photographs providing a fascinating first-hand account of the $400 million restoration, and the grand and anecdotal stories that involve the great building. 50 color & 100 b/w illustrations

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

New York City's Grand Central Terminal is among those iconic structures that symbolize, if not a nation, then a national spirit. This book recounts the dramatic story of the terminal with a cast that includes the Vanderbilt dynasty, Jimmy Durante, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Architects Belle and Leighton, whose firm supervised the spectacularly successful restoration of Grand Central, provide an insider's perspective on the effort to rescue the once-endangered terminal. Unfortunately, perhaps in an effort to reach a wide audience, the text is weighted toward economic aspects, cultural significance, and lore; design and architecture are given cursory treatment. Even so, this is an engaging account of the rise and decline of mass transport in this century. For large public and academic libraries, and collections with concentrations in urban planning, transportation, and historic preservation.
-David Soltesz, Cuyahoga Cty. P.L., Parma, OH
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company; 1st edition (November 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0393047652
• ISBN-13: 978-0393047653
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 8.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,056,343 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Grand to say the Least, December 22, 2005

By 

Shannon Deason (Houston) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Grand Central: Gateway to a Million Lives (Hardcover)

This is a wonderful book on a magnificent building. This book has wonderful period photos as well as recent images and the text is highly informative. It's hard to believe that this building was once slated for demolition, thanks to New Yorkers like Jackie O, Grand Central was saved. Everyone who visits New York City should venture into this singular station, it embodies New York and you get a real feel for Gilded Age grandeur. If you have any interest in magnificent buildings or just good books in general then I believe you will not be disappointed.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, February 13, 2008

By 

Tukusiapon "Tukusiapon" (New York, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Grand Central: Gateway to a Million Lives (Hardcover)

This is one of the bests books about grand central and its surroundings ever published, not doubt you'll be 100% satisfied with it.