Grand Central Terminal Centennial Celebration Kicks Off Feb 1

• April 11, 2013 — Grand Central Talks (12 noon, 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m., Vanderbilt Hall in GCT) — Authors, experts and historians discuss the development and construction of Grand Central Terminal, and consider the changes it made on New York City and the transportation industry. Organized by Metro-North Railroad and the New York Transit Museum with assistance from the New York Public Library.

• May 10-12, 2013 — Grand Centennial Parade of Trains Weekend (time TBA,Vanderbilt Hall and select platform tracks in GCT) — Visit Grand Central for a weekend filled with the return of historic trains (including the 20th Century Limited) that travelled in and out of the Terminal and across the country in the heyday of luxury rail travel. Also featured: Metro-North Railroad equipment past and present; “railroadiana” displays and exhibits; and interactive family fun that will appeal to transportation enthusiasts of all types.

• May 22, 2013 — Grand Getaway Day (Vanderbilt Hall in GCT) — Metro-North Railroad presents a showcase of the hottest vacation getaways available in its numerous destinations in New York City, the Hudson Valley, and Connecticut.

• Summer 2013 — Preserving a Landmark; Creating a Legacy — This summer, Metro-North Railroad unveils and dedicates a restored entrance to the Terminal at 89 E. 42nd Street. Additionally, resulting from a collaborative effort with the New York City Department of Transportation and the Grand Central Partnership, exterior enhancements will be completed on the Pershing Square viaduct at 42nd Street and Park Avenue. Additional details to be announced.

• July 27-Nov. 3, 2013 — The Next Level: Photographs by Hiroyuki Suzuki (8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mon - Fri; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekends, Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at GCT) — The future of New Yorkers’ travel patterns in the next century is under construction now at Grand Central Terminal, eighteen stories beneath the ground. This behind-the-scenes look at the East Side Access project features captivating photos by Hiroyuki Suzuki.

• Winter 2013 — New Grand Central Tour Program — Metro-North Railroad will offer a new docent-led daily tour of Grand Central Terminal that complements the agency’s official and popular audio tour program. Additional details to be announced.

Centennial Sponsors

Target is the presenting sponsor of the Grand Central Terminal Centennial celebration. Additional sponsors include The Westin New York Grand Central Hotel, global commercial real estate services firm CBRE, Inc., New York-based food brand Carvel Corporation, and Columbia Business School. WABC-TV and The New York Times are media partners.

“We are pleased that so many private companies with ties to New York City have stepped forward to provide funding that makes this day, and many of our Centennial year activities, possible,” said Metro-North President Howard Permut.

About Grand Central Terminal

MTA Metro-North Railroad is the steward of Grand Central Terminal, which stands as one of America’s greatest transportation hubs and one of New York City’s most iconic buildings. It is both a national institution and an international example of the success that can be achieved giving new life to a historic building that otherwise may have been destroyed. Over the course of a colorful and vibrant 100-year history, Grand Central has gone from being among the 20th Century’s most significant start and end points for long-distance rail travel, to being both the flagship home of MTA Metro-North Railroad and a global destination for commuters, tourists and residents alike. The Grand Central “brand” includes boutique restaurants and cocktail lounges, a gourmet market, and many specialty shops. It draws thousands of national and international tourists each day and wows them with its varied offerings and tour programs. Storied Vanderbilt Hall, once the waiting room for long-distance travelers, is among the most-desired public event spaces in the city.