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Why New York’s Most Beautiful Building Was Demolished (Old Penn Station)
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 16 ส.ค. 2024
- Why would the bustling metropolis, New York City - the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps - choose to demolish one of its most treasured architectural icons?
Old Penn Station - adorned in rich Beaux-Arts glory - was once a proud beacon in the rapidly growing New York skyline.
How did such a remarkable monument to grandeur and elegance succumb to the swing of the wrecking ball - replaced by a functional but far less awe-inspiring transportation hub?
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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Introduction
1:06 1. Why New York Built Old Penn Station In The First Place
4:52 2. Inside Old Penn Station - The Interiors
8:01 3. The Decline and Demolition of Old Penn Station
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Embark on an intriguing journey with us, as we unravel the fascinating story behind the rise and fall of New York City's architectural crown jewel, the Old Penn Station.
Nestled in the heart of the Big Apple, this Beaux-Arts masterpiece, once synonymous with grandeur and elegance, shockingly succumbed to the wrecking ball, replaced by a less inspiring transportation hub.
"Old Money Mansions" takes you on a deep dive into the captivating narrative of this breathtaking edifice's creation and unfortunate downfall.
Discover why this magnificent structure, among the "New York most beautiful" buildings, was unfortunately demolished.
Dive into the daring vision that gave birth to the Old Penn Station.
It was meticulously designed to rival New York's Grand Central Terminal and provide the Pennsylvania Railroad a direct entry into Manhattan, the country's paramount economic hub during the early 20th century.
Alexander Cassatt, the Pennsylvania Railroad's President, commissioned the prestigious architectural firm, McKim, Mead & White to execute this ambitious project.
This decision marked a turning point in the architectural landscape of New York City, with the Beaux-Arts glory of Old Penn Station becoming an emblem of the American Renaissance.
Journey inside the original Penn Station and marvel at its unique Beaux-Arts style, influenced by the classical Greek and Roman aesthetics.
Admire the ornate waiting rooms, grand staircases, and broad concourses that once echoed stories of countless journeys and heartfelt reunions.
Discover the intricate details of this grand edifice, from the imposing façade along 7th Avenue to the coffered ceiling fashioned out of travertine quarried from Tivoli.
Unfortunately, as the railroad industry declined, Penn Station's upkeep became increasingly burdensome, leading to its unfortunate decline.
By the late 1950s, the once awe-inspiring station was no longer the architectural marvel it used to be, covered in filth and marred by modern alterations. However, the station's downfall had a silver lining-it sparked the modern historic preservation movement in the United States.
Our exploration goes beyond the beauty of the architecture, delving into the "old money" that funded the construction of this Beaux-Arts masterpiece. We shed light on the pivotal role played by real estate magnate William Zeckendorf, who laid claim to Penn Station's air rights in 1955, setting the course for its eventual demolition.
In this in-depth look at the rise and fall of one of New York City's most beautiful buildings, we explore the underlying reasons that led to the demolition of the Old Penn Station and delve into its historical, architectural, and cultural significance.
Join us as we unravel the story of this monumental structure and examine its lasting legacy in New York City and beyond.
COMMENT: Do you have any other famous buildings that have been demolished that you’re curious to hear the story of?
Belleview Biltmore Hotel in Belleair, FL
Built in 1910😂. Show us them digging with shovels.. travertine marble, sure. I smell tartarians....
How about the story of the Singer Tower? The tallest building in the world, designed to last the ages -- and demolished at the age of 62. The City Investing Building on the same block was equally fascinating. And how about the Hudson Terminal buildings nearby, demolished for the World Trade Center? This collection of notable early skyscrapers, all within about a block of one another, would be considered among the most notable buildings in all New York today, had they survived the point when they were seen merely as "old buildings."
Potter Palmer's mansion in Chicago!
Historical estates in Lake Geneva Wisconsin formerly owned by wealthy families from ILLINOIS that were demolished
the union terminal train station in cincinnati was an abandoned art deco masterpiece. it was then turned into a museum, and thankfully its been preserved and is still open today.
I live in Cincinnati and I have fond memories as a little boy of going down to this beautiful terminal with my parents and picking up friends and relatives there. The fountain in front is my favorite part and I can still remember my parents laughing when I asked if I could go swimming in it. The taxpayers in Cincinnati and Hamilton County came through to preserve it by passing an issue in an election and it was completely renovated a few years ago.
@@michaelrief4424How did they preserve it by renovating it?
@@twistoffate4791it was restored but also repurposed into two museums and an imax theater. its better than the state it was in before it was repurposed. much better than abandoned and moldy
@@twistoffate4791
It needed so much work including structural work that once they began to dig into the bones of the building they realized that they were either going to have to do a full blown reconstruction or they would just be doing a half assed job of it.
Ah the old art deco excuse ...
Buildings like Pennsylvania Station can never be recreated, the talented craftsman no longer exist.
Not true. The craftsmen exist, but the expenditure does not. Neither does superlative good taste.
@@LUIS-ox1bv
Therefore the craftsmen do not exist
@@rmp7400 "Touche" ... I concur. I also think many of these buildings are Much older and were simply inherited or appropriated by the rich.
Yes you’re right they don’t and that’s because of liberal run unions that have absolutely zero standards and are all about special needs affirmative action create a jobs and all the other disgusting racist trash liberal programs that have been destroying the nation for decades
@@LUIS-ox1bv The craftsmen don't exist and nor does the knowledge of sacred geometry or harmonious construction
When I arrived at the crowded low-ceiling Penn Station a few years ago, it felt like it was saying "Welcome to Hell".
@ 33Donner77
Re: Pennsylvania Station (1910-1963)
"One entered the city like a god.
One scuttles in now like a rat." --
Vincent Scully (1920--2017) Art Historian
I am British but I live in France. The French take enormous pride in their historic buildings and work tirelessly to keep them alive. This is something many other countries shy from. That station was a beautiful building and should still be here today. This shows how some countries view their architectural legacy. Such a travesty.
No country in the world preserves it's ancient buildings like the British.
I don't believe your patriotic claim and the case in point being some 300 churches burnt down since Notre Dame
@@justgrand3429 That why the British tore down the crystal palace and both its water towers ? The claim abut Britain preserving them is not true.
@ thestevenjaywaymusic7775
The plans were underway to demolish
Pennsylvania Station before the general
public got wind of it. (The city and the
railroads had been secretive) Once people
realized what was going on many did rally
to save it; but they didn't have enough time
to raise the money to stop the demolition.
The destruction of Pennsylvania Station
was a wake-up call for the citizens of
NYC.
Later, Grand Central Station was saved,
the Flatiron Building was saved and a
4-lane elevated highway was prevented
from chewing up Old New York (i.e.
Lower/southern Manhattan)
Now, (2024) the Flatiron has been
sitting vacant for a couple of years.
People are beginning to wonder
what is going on with that. Prime
real estate not being updated and
used? .... Hmm ....
@@justgrand3429No one should really care cuz in one million years, those buildings will be long gone and no one will know they ever existed.
What a heartbreaking turn of events.
So heartbreaking! Had it been saved they would have revovated it by now like Grand central. It looked amazing from the pics!
@ Usernameusername206
It was! (amazing)
Re: Pennsylvania Station (1910-1963)
" *One entered the city like a god.*
. *One scuttles in now like a rat.* " --
Vincent Scully (1920--2017) Art Historian
That explains why American cities are so ugly and impersonal. A conglomerate of parking lots, malls, boring samo-samo warehouses, chain fast food places and suburbs. Demolition of such a building like the Pen Station shows almost a level of barbarism. I known that I am harsh here on the issue, but this is literally how I feel.
You’re not harsh at all I worked in the liberal trash run union for decades and was a part of the destruction of perfect buildings and now retired have to live with myself as a tradesman who actually cared a lot and didn’t have enough respect for the trade to just walk off the job
It takes very strong Leaders like Robert Moses to fix this shit and a Mayor like Rudy Giuliani melded with Bloomberg
Whoever narrates these videos is amazing at it. Love it!
Glad you like them!
Its a text to speech bot
It's refreshing to hear a cultivated British accent with no mispronunciations instead of a crass American one with plenty of mispronunciations.
Ernest Flagg's Singer Tower in Lower Manhattan.
I live in Colorado Springs, Colorado. I would love to see an episode about the old Antlers Hotel in downtown Colorado Springs. It was a beautiful building constructed by our town founder General William Jackson Palmer in 1901 following the destruction of its predecessor. Crafted in the Italian Renaissance style, it served Presidents, Dignitaries, Celebrities and Moguls. Torn down in the name of "progress" and replaced with an eyesore of a bread box 😢.
With the decline in train travel, yes, cars did proliferate however NYC has always been a place not very welcoming to the auto. NYC has a huge population of non-car households because of the ease of public transportation even for commuters while parking remains elusive and expensive. With the rise of long distance bus travel and city busses, why couldn’t the old Penn Station have been transformed into what today’s Port Authority is-the main hub for busses? PA has no curb appeal at all. All the old station needed was a real good scrubbing. Why was America the only country that thought new was always better than old? Luckily by the late 70-early 80’s, people started saying ENOUGH! Thank God no one got their hands on the main Library!
Thanks for keeping at least the memory of so many lost gems alive! 😘😘
Can you do a video on the NY abandoned subway system? It's soooo beautiful. Thank you!
Search: The Most Fascinating Abandoned Subway Stations in NYC
This always makes me sad. This building needs to be rebuilt! And NOT in some wannabe-respectful modernist version, but just as it was with maybe some minor changes
May I suggest the demolition of the old Chicago Stock Exchange building. Demolished in 1972.
Another unforgivable sin enacted by Chicago against one the city's most original, and illustrious architects. Louis Sullivan.
@@LUIS-ox1bv ditto the entire chilaga architecture
I'd love you to do one on the Astor Hotel, the original Plaza Hotel, and the Croton Reservoir. Or what would be amazing if you could do one on Grand Central Stations, then terminal making way for Park Avenue that was railroads before it was the terminal and the original old Madison Square Garden which played into the story.
This is too sad to even watch!
Excellent, informative narrative, except for the last part, where you incorrectly state that the station’s demolition spurred landmark preservation laws that saved “thousands” of important sites. These laws are selectively enforced; for the right price, developers can still pay off city officials to rip down anything that gets in their way.
I was just there today, to witness the latest architectural crimes. Politically connected developers have only double-down on ugly.
Instead of razing the 1960s office tower facing 7th Ave (where the original entrance to Penn Station had been, graced by a row of Doric columns) they renovated the tower, making it bigger and uglier!
This puts the nail in the coffin, to any future hopes of EVER rebuilding even a facsimile of the original Penn Station.
And if that weren’t enough, the McKim, Mead and White designed Pennsylvania Hotel that faced directly opposite the station, which had been the largest hotel in the world when it opened, and managed to survive all these years is now just a big hole in the ground. Gone!
And what will take its place? Another office tower, of course.
The hotel was actually protected under the city’s landmark status, but THE DEMS who are running New York into the ground these days do not pay attention to any laws.
For the right price, they will selectively apply the law to political enemies, and give their filthy rich friends a pass…
Thank you sir finally someone who understands the reality of No Standards liberal run into the ground politics. I worked for decades for the corrupt disgraced disgusting racist trash bricklayers union and was told by a wise old man way back that liberals should never be allowed to touch old 1800 s buildings ( liberal run unions) or anything even close They Destroy everything they touch and literally reverse engineer what geniuses created through their arrogance and stupidity and all around just being trash people I worked on the NYS Capital which took thirty years to build since it Was a perfect building and even at the time that I worked there had No idea what a perfect building was. The things that No Clue No Standards liberal trash hell bent on destroying masterpieces that they have absolutely no business being anywhere near and yet The unions like the bricklayers are absolute trash No Standards No merit Arrogant and so many other ugly things. It’s way too much to explain how ignorant arrogant and clueless they are I have decades of proof of liberals destroying what can never again be built in this No Standards Trash nation
Have you seen the new "iconic"
{cough} glass skyscraper that
will be crowding and over-
shadowing the Crysler Building?
I remember commuting from Long Island to NYC as a teenager working summers in NYC. Penn Station was magnificent. I couldn’t believe that they tore it down and literally buried the trains under Madison Square Garden.
Let's not forget those responsible for demolition did so beneath a label of "progressive" at the time.
"Progressives" (i.e.
Leftists) ALWAYS
want to "improve"
things to be in their
utopian self-image.
The reality, usually,
is a dystopian nightmare.
I once read that Jackie Onassis was instrumental in saving Grand Central Station.
Pennsylvania hotel nearby was demolished recently.
That's been a dump since the 1970s
Re: Pennsylvania Station (1910-1963)
" *One entered the city like a god. One scuttles in now like a rat* " -- Vincent Scully (1920--2017) Art Historian
The origenal Zigfeld theater in NYC
Historical penn station should had been permanently preserved as a historical NYC landmark and be restored as a museum
Why New Yorkers didn't petition for landmark status for Penn Station is beyond me. My father told me Penn Station was a jewel of a building.
White Star Line Pier, would love to hear the story on that. That’s another structure that was designed for Ocean Liner Travel in New York.
The evil empire had a wicked dark heart. That’s why.
May I recommend a documentary on the destruction of Lowe's Sheraton movie theater in Greenwich Village.
The new Pennsyvania Station again gives a triumphant entry into a great city and it should be. Ohter cities destroyed their train terminals so they are let with insignificant structures which cause the traveler to feel as they are sneaking into the cities.
The "new" Penn Station
(built 1963--1968) ???
Are you serious ???
imo: Its an eyesore!
Please do the Maryland casualty tower building in Baltimore.
The preservation movement in the US was well underway by decades before the demise of Penn Station in cities such as Boston.
From the National Park Service:
“Penn Station demolition catalyzes historic preservation movement.
The decision to replace the New York's Penn Station, designed by McKim, Mead and White, and its subsequent demolition becomes a key moment in the birth of the US historic preservation movement.”
www.nps.gov/subjects/culturallandscapes/cltimeline4.htm
And Charleston SC
Preservation movement?? Ha what a joke don’t get me started it’s way too much to explain
@@oldmoneymansions despite what the National Park Service wrote - it doesn't change the fact that Boston was engaged in historic preservation LONG LONG before Penn Station was ripped down in 1963. It began in Boston in 1863 after John Hancock's home was torn down. Other old cities and towns along the East Coast were also engaged in historic preservation long before 1963.
The Roxy Theatre in Manhattan.
None of the opulent theatres they destroyed were built in the one year time line in the 20s they left us with its past time to call out their fake narratives. Fox Theatre too.
stately beauty destroyed ????????????
Could you feature a video about the Carnegie Library in Yonkers NY that was torn down in 1980?
One word: Air Rights. The Pennsylvania railroad was pretty much bankrupt at that point and the possibility of making more money by putting up an ugly skyscraper and even uglier Madison Square Garden was from a business sense a better use of the above street level property.
I don't think so, I understand that it was not profitable but... The problem is that you fall into the error of the "Trolley problem" without thinking about a third option: making building beautiful and a beautiful terminal in the basement. An example of the problem with these 2 options is that I do not believe that the Madison Square Garden is more profitable than a building the height of the empire state.
Sad sad sad sad sad.
But your video was well put together and narrated.
They were called Robber Barons for a reason. Penn Station was built by a previous civilization. The Robber Barons simply took ownership of it.
Buffalo Penn Station …extremely sad sad building sitting for many years since demise of Penn Railway
I want to know if they will demolish the Vessel in the Hudson Yards in New York or if will it be preserved? As you may or may not know, the Vessel remains indefinitely closed because of its use in several suicides.
Would it be possible to do a video about Judy Garland's last house in London? It's such a shame it had to be torn down.
Who is the very good narrator in this video?
It's called generic AI voice
@@seanp8220
Even if so, then it is taken from the voice of a very good narrator. I’ve heard him before, but cannot recall his name.
What about the Singer Building?
We repurposed everything and devised an excuse for building it to justify it's destruction.
It was a crime against humanity.
Thinking the Morgans' house will do
What a shame.
That wasn't the only classic destroyed
Because thats what NYC does.
Fantastic footage and historical evidence. Thank you for making and posting. Now, this whole thing can be rebuilt at anytime, since like everything else in this functional city, it was just a facade. Those marble columns, ceilings, gates etc were empty metal scafolds inside with just a marble skin. No solid marble or stone, but only the skin. So, we can rebuild it. It was modern marvel, not an ancient building, you know! (Oh, and look how well are those passengers dressed, and no person of color among them)
What were You watching ... Zero construction photos or video. Nice Pro-NWO try
What are you trying to say??
@@toecutter1015 I posted on wrong video.
@@toecutter1015 I said: "Fantastic footage and historical evidence. Thank you for making and posting. Now, this whole thing can be rebuilt at anytime, since like everything else in this functional city, it was just a facade"
@@TWOCOWS1 Even if it was just a facade it would still be impossible today Oh and Everything that is built today ( unless it’s concrete or concrete block) is just a facade brick stone whatever This nation is a no merit no standards liberal run shit show and it’s getting worse every day and I know from personal experience being a member of the corrupt lying no standards racist liberal run bricklayers union I’m not some clueless fake news wanker
Richard Morris Hunt designed the Breakers; maybe you should have shown Rosecliff or the Newport Casino for the firm's work in Newport. I wonder if my grandfather did any work for the station. He was a stone cutter and polisher in Milford, MA (i.e. it was Milford pink granite that clan the building - plus the eagles were carved in Milford of local granite). What said Old Money more than the original Metropolitan Opera in NYC? How about a video on its demolition? Excellent video.
Great ideas!
The railroad needed money!!!!!!!
the newyork central station in rochester ny was a grand train station but the fools of the newyork central torn down half of the grand trainstation for parking a great shame on you for the morons who did this to this once AWESOME TRAINSTATION THIS is only my opinion only
who ever said it existed?
Singer building
WOODER DAMAGE I GUESS ,
New York wanted to buy of a penstation anyway, to safe the building, but it looks ugly, but if they clean it using of ATR, c, it could be something bringing back the oglers or something of a new glory that it could save this building, but however, everyone is too little too late. The wrecking ball that it is demolition coming down and this is a wake up. Call that the next of a station that it is granted Central tonight will be next, but thanks to Jackie Kennedy that. The female wife of the President of John F. Kennedy The wife Jackie Kennedy It was a great overseas. Save a landmark of a grand Central tournament and this one was safe and to be a landmark.
Will you think everyone Everyone says docca the brightness of a watch upon a time. Now, that of a living underground like rats. It's horrible anyway. But it's too little too late, so it's gone. But in the near future, if they got a bill of a brand new Penn station that the classical want and new ones could we mix it up together? It would be something like this is before that the classical older building, and this is after the new future of a new Penn station, but the problem is that everyone data. You know that the open station have made up of stones and granite. It means that marvels beautiful marvels. But none of them cannot be saved but some of them data has been safe already. If you go underground like that everyone that I'll update the devastation well, I do not know that the original door is still there data of the enter of the Penn station. There are still left around there or if it's not, then there must be data where there will be destroyed the last penetration right there that the door's opening to find the funded gate right there, or are they moving to the new locations? You just have to find it anyway.
Can't believe we're still cryin' over this.
I'll "weep" when they demolish the Garden.
Didn't know that 1955 statistical nugget (my YOB) - so I learned something.
(How about that.) 🤠