American Experience: Grand Central on AllMovie

Explore the tragedy that inspired Grand Central Terminal and follow the dramatic construction of this awe-inspiring landmark as the filmmakers from American Experience reflect on the origins and history of a spectacular monument to the railway era. The date was January 8, 1902: A southbound commuter train was barreling through a congested Grand Central Depot tunnel when it collided with the rear end of another train. By the time the firemen arrived to search for survivors, seventeen people were dead and thirty-eight more were seriously injured. That day, an ambitious self-taught engineer made it his mission to ensure that New York City commuters never again experienced a tragedy of this magnitude. Christened Grand Central Terminal when it opened on February 2, 1913, the resulting complex was a true marvel of technological and architectural innovation. But building such a living monument was no simple task, and now viewers can find out exactly how much heart and soul went into he construction of a railway terminal that still stands proudly as one of our nation's crowning achievements.