Sending postcards from Grand Central

When it comes to any monument with a long history like Grand Central, there’s plenty to write home about. As those who have followed this blog for a while know, I have an affinity for railroad postcards, and especially those from Grand Central. Over the past one hundred years, countless cards featuring the Terminal have been printed and sent all over the world.

Part of the reason I find these postcards so interesting is that they are a great way to see how Grand Central has changed over the past 100 years. Many buildings sprang up around the Terminal – most notably in 1929 when the New York Central building was constructed behind, and in 1958 when construction commenced on the Pan Am building. But perhaps most notable are the cards that show what everyone thought Grand Central would look like. Several of the postcards were printed before Grand Central was ever completed – and one even imagined the inside of the Terminal with a glass ceiling, not the painted sky ceiling we are all familiar with (which did appear in an early Warren & Wetmore sketch).

As Grand Central’s centennial is fast approaching, I thought this would be a perfect time to share a collection of Grand Central postcards. Special thanks to Steve Swirsky, as probably about half of these cards are from his collection. Enjoy!

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

Sending postcards from Grand Central

6 Responses

  1. Jeff M. says:

    OMG, these are incredible — especially that cutaway view!

    But what I obviously missed somewhere along the way, seems to be (if the illustrations here show what I think they do) that the original plans called for the main concourse ceiling to include a huge skylight rather than the constellation mural. Is that right?

    • Emily says:

      Yeah, I made a comment about it in the post, but I don’t think it was clear, so I rewrote that part… one of the earlier Warren & Wetmore drawings showed a large skylight in the main concourse as opposed to the painted ceiling!

  2. Jeff M. says:

    You’re right, I was so entranced by the pictures I hurriedly skimmed your text (sorry!).

    To be completely accurate, though, it should be noted that the original skylight idea appears not in one of the drawings, but in two — it’s in that cutaway view as well!

  3. John says:

    Very great post. I just stumbled upon your blog and wanted to mention that I’ve really enjoyed browsing your weblog posts. In any case I will be subscribing for your feed and I hope you write once more very soon!

  4. Al Cyone says:

    For anyone who missed it, there’s a great article (and video) in today’s NY Times, excerpted from the forthcoming book, “Grand Central: How a Train Station Transformed America“, by Sam Roberts.

  5. Al Brecken says:

    Private Enterprise = the (Very Grand ) Grand Central Terminal

    Public Enterprise = inevitable and certain waste , fraud , incomptence , and corruption on a VERY “Grand” ( extensive ) scale , SA the “Big Dig” in Boston —-

    http://www,bigdighighwayrobbery.com/

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