Grand Central Station is a world-famous landmark and transportation hub in Midtown Manhattan. Its rich history is a story of immense wealth and great engineering, but also of survival and rebirth. Built in 1913, it is the largest train station in the world. Although many may call it Grand Central Station, its real name is Grand Central Terminal, and it holds many magical secrets within its walls. If you have a trip to NYC planned, you’ll want to check out the mysteries of this iconic transportation hub.
A Grand Way to Travel
Located at 42nd Street and Park Avenue, it is likely that you will pass through this station at some point during your New York City exploration. This transportation hub has trains, subways and buses passing through it at every hour of the day. If you do, plan some time to get out and explore Grand Central Terminal. You can spend hours enjoying the sites and sounds of this bustling train station.
About Grand Central Station
Grand Central Station is known as one of the finest transportation stations in the world. There are 44 platforms with 67 tracks. The terminal covers 49 acres and has over 700,000 people a day traversing its corridors. And you could spend a day just eating your way through the restaurants, cocktail bars, and the infamous Magnolia Bakery banana pudding.
Among the hustle and bustle of this transportation hub in the thriving city of New York, a little-known secret and magical phenomenon rises up out of the architectural structure of the terminal itself. This is a secret worth quietly whispering to your closest friends. Explore Grand Central Station and experience this secret phenomenon on your next trip to New York City.
The Whispering Arches
One of the most elusive secrets of Grand Central Station is the Whisper Arches (also called the “whispering gallery” or “whispering wall”). These arches are located on the dining concourse near the famous Oyster Bar & Restaurant.
According to experts, the tiles that make up the curved ceiling are tightly set and there are no vents, thus no place for the sound waves to absorb. So the sound travels from one corner of the arch over to the other corner 30 feet away. To try this out, stand in one corner and have your friend or loved one stand in the opposite diagonal corner. Then, simply whisper and your friend should hear it as if you were standing beside them. This is a popular spot to whisper sweet nothings to your mate and has been known to be a popular spot for marriage proposals.
Even in the hustle and bustle of Grand Central Station, oh the magic of hearing a whisper from afar. So if you have a trip planned to NYC, definitely check out the Whisper Arches of Grand Central Terminal.
Have you visited these arches? Do you plan on visiting them? Comment below and let me know what you think?
