New book documents the rise and tragic fall of nycs original. The destruction of penn station barbara moore, peter moore, barbara moore, lorraine b. The authors research carefully addresses the whole history of the building, from construction to destruction, ending with an acknowledgment of its lasting legacy in terms of historical preservation. When the old penn station was demolished, new york lost its. Conquering gotham tells the history of the building of penn station and the building of the long island railroad lirr. Feb 02, 2001 the destruction of penn station photographs by peter moore. As the terminal shared its name with several stations in other cities, it was sometimes called new york pennsylvania station, or penn station for short. Louis stettner and the glories of penn station the new york. Oct 28, 2014 among many things, penn stations destruction was a symbolic torch passing from the grandiose appreciation of the past to the austere simplicity of the future. May 01, 2001 the decision in 1962 to replace the old station and its subsequent demolition ultimately proved to be key moments in the birth of the historical preservation movementa movement that came too late to save penn station itself. The destruction of penn station one entered the city like.
Apr 24, 2019 one of penn stations 22 famous eagles being removed from the buildings one remaining facade. Since its destruction in the 1960s, the station has become something mythic, a sacrificial lamb to the cause of historic preservation. Penn station was a public space and not just a train station. Pennsylvania station was a historic railroad station in new york city, named for the. Excellent book on the grandeur of the original penn station, one of the most exceptional building in north america before it was destroyed in 1964 for what we have now, a hideous train station that looks like a basement in jersey. Dec 11, 2015 good news for those pining for the old penn station which should be just about everybody whos encountered the awful thing that is its replacement. When people see photos of the old station, they universally want to rebuild it. Season 26 episode 5 2m 59s in 1961, the financially strapped pennsylvania railroad announced it had sold the air rights above penn station. Penn books, a small independent bookstore locating in new yorks iconic penn station, is in trouble. Above his head and above the heads of the 200,000 commuters who transversed the station each day cranes were beginning to take down what had been one of the grandest public buildings of the 20th century. A new book showcases louis stettners photographs of passengers at. Pennsylvania station, also known as new york penn station or penn station, is the main intercity railroad station in new york city and the busiest in the western hemisphere, serving more than 600,000 passengers per weekday as of 2019.
Old penn station and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. Despite large public opposition to penn stations demolition, the new york city department of city. Penn books, penn stations excellent independent bookstore. Jul 31, 2012 on that 86degree summer evening 50 years ago, commuters were greeted by the sight of more than 100 buttoneddown and whitegloved protesters marching around the colossal colonnade at the stations entrance.
What remains lost however is an important part of new york citys. Apr 21, 2020 this book chronicles the story of penn station from the laying of the first tracks to its demise in the early 20th century when it was torn down. Old penn station memorialized in new book of stunning photos. Apr 22, 2015 today penn station is the busiest transportation hub in the u. Demolition at nycs pennsylvania station began 51 years ago. Pennsylvania station was ruined long before it was wrecked. At that time, there were virtually no cars or highways in the us, and public transportation was accomplished either by walking, riding a horse. Old penn station louis stettner photographs architectural digest.
The destruction of penn station one entered the city like a god. But during this period one might on any given day of the week, have seen peter moore in the station, carefully photographing the building and the process of its destruction, even as above his headand above the heads of the 200, 000 commuters who transversed the station each daycranes were beginning to take down what had been one of the grandest public buildings of the twentieth century. Amplifying its loss is the condition of present penn station, a fairly unpleasant underground space that uses the original pennsylvania railroad s tracks and tunnels. But the story is touching as it tells of how pennsylvania station was built and then later destroyed. What penn station used to look like will make you weep with. On a more positive note, penn station s destruction helped inspire the landmarks preservation movement, which has saved grand central terminal and. Oct 28, 20 10 gorgeous, nostalgic photos of new yorks old penn station. Through its destruction, the historic preservation movement was born.
The original penn station, constructed in 1910 and designed by new yorks greatest gilded age architectural firm, was more than just a building. Among many things, penn station s destruction was a symbolic torch passing from the grandiose appreciation of the past to the austere simplicity of the future. The destruction of penn station goodreads share book. The original penn station, constructed in 1910 and designed by new yorks. Penn books, penn stations excellent independent bookstore, needs help by alex shephard. The demolition of penn station in 1963 destroyed not just a soaring.
Save penn station, their signs said, in nicely formed letters. Demolition at nycs pennsylvania station began 51 years. Though the original penn station served 100 million passengers a year at its peak in 1945, by. A new book about penn stations past, demolition, and future features interviews with untapped cities tour guide and chief experience officer. But during this period one might on any given day of the week, have seen peter moore in the station, carefully photographing the building and the process of its destruction, even as above his headand above the heads of the 200, 000 commuters who transversed the station each daycranes were beginning to take down what had been one of the. Take a look at these photos of the original penn station, one of the last structures of neoclassical architecture in new york city, before it was torn down. The loss of penn station obviously cant be equated with human suffering and death. Building penn station and its tunnels by jill jonnes. But he also documented the threeyearlong demolition of the old pennsylvania station. Lorraine b diehl pennsylvania station was a marvel in its time, but it became a relic, a symbol of a bygone era in a time when the world preferred to look forward.
The destruction american experience official site pbs. On a more positive note, penn station s destruction helped inspire the landmarks preservation movement, which has saved grand central terminal and other famous new york city structures from. Vintage photos of penn station s demolition on the 50th anniversary since the threeyear demolition process began. Podcast why did they knock down old pennsylvania station.
Penn stations destruction, dramatized on stage metropolis. Photographs by peter moore, edited by moores wife, barbara. Penn station was built and opened for business in 1910. Moores photographs capture the transcendent quality of the light in the station. May 28, 2015 in 1968, penn central railroad, the company that bulldozed penn station, announced plans for the redevelopment of grand central that could have led to the destruction of its facade and main. Oct 31, 2014 the playwrights new work explores an event that began the preservation movement in the united states.
This book chronicles the story of penn station from the laying of the first tracks to its demise in the early 20th century when it was torn down. How the original new york penn station was a majestic beauxarts gem, built in rivalry with the vanderbilts, but was demolished in the 60s to make way for today. Old penn station follows a very specific piece of new york city history, but its not just a new york book. To the casual observer in 1964 peter moore might have looked like just one more new yorker moving through penn station on his way to or from some destination. The story is fraught with ego, engineering feats and sacrifice of the common worker like most gilded age histories. There are no words that can fully convey the madness of misguided, greedy men with no regard for the beauty, magnificence and sacred structureindeed the vibrance of spiritthat was the original penn station. The statues ended up in farflung places like the new jersey botanical garden and on the roof of. Its demolition is the stuff of new york legend, an act of architectural vandalism so. His photographs of the 4year demolition of new yorks pennsylvania station, on the other hand, were unknown to the outside world during his lifetime. Watch the rise and fall of penn station american experience. Oct 28, 20 vintage photos of penn station s demolition on the 50th anniversary since the threeyear demolition process began. Rivers never walked through its great concourses but the events of 911, and a chance encounter with a book documenting the stations untimely end, struck a profound chord.
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