Month: May 2016

The Hidden History of Grand Central Terminal’s Celestial Ceiling

On By Bookworm HistoryIn BH Blog5 Comments

Even before Grand Central Terminal officially opened on February 2, 1913 New Yorkers were teased with descriptions of the starry mural that had been painted on its vaulted ceiling, with the New York Times telling of its “effect of illimitable space” and how “fortunately there are no chairs in the concourse or…some passengers might miss their trains while contemplating this starry picture.”[1]  While the effect the painting has on commuters today is the same, the mural has undergone significant change.  In fact, it’s not even the same mural.

grand-central-celestial-ceiling-mural-orion-taurus-hidden-history-uranometria-bookworm-history-daniel-thurber

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The Great West Point Chain Hoax

On By Bookworm HistoryIn BH Blog1 Comment

Con artists were no strangers to early New York City.  At one time or another, nearly every major landmark in the city had been sold by a ‘matchstick man’ or grifter.  Around the turn of the twentieth century one such fraud was successfully performed by two men who targeted an artifact of slightly less renown: The Great West Point Chain.

Trophy Point-West Point-USMA-Great Chain-Hudson River (2)
Image via Wikicommons user Ahodges7

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