Grand Central Terminal
Visitors can picture the world of early-20th-century American high society at the grandiose Grand Central Terminal. Constructed at the height of long-distance passenger rail travel, the 48-acre terminal is one of the world’s largest and most-visited tourist attractions.
The jaw-dropping main concourse that stretches 200 feet long, 120 feet wide and 120 feet high uses a twinkling fiber-optic map of the constellations to light up its blue ceiling. Modeled after an ancient Roman public bath, the majestic public space is a stunning example of ornate Beaux Arts neoclassical architecture. Groups can admire the marble floors, chandeliers and sky-themed ceiling on their own or on an audio or guided tour.
Orpheo USA, a producer of audio tours, offers an audio history of the terminal that can last from 30 minutes to over an hour for architectural highlights and little-known anecdotes from the terminal. Docent-led tours also tell little-known facts about the terminal.
The whispering gallery is one of the favorite points of interest for tours. Guests can listen as sound mysteriously travels across the 2,000-square-foot chamber.
Some groups also stop at the terminal for a meal stop, since its foodie fare varies from the upscale Michael Jordan’s The Steak House N.Y.C. to the classic Oyster Bar.
Harlem
Groups can use their senses when exploring the influential heritage of Harlem with soul-food tours, live gospel services or jazz concerts. These same streets that innovators like Langston Hughes, Ella Fitzgerald and Bessie Smith frequented are now synonymous with African-American culture.
The neighborhood transformed the cultural landscape of the United States, especially during the early 20th century when it became known as the Capital of Black America. Tours of Harlem focus on the artistic, literary and musical contributions of the 1920s Harlem Renaissance, which forever changed the country.
Walking tours such as Free Tours by Foot, Harlem Heritage Tours and Big Onion Walking Tours introduce groups to the 400-year history and artistic legacy of the area. All tours pass through 125th Street, which is anchored by the Apollo Theater.
The Apollo opened in 1934 and helped introduce the world to the Jackson 5, Ella Fitzgerald, James Brown and other prominent African-American musicians. The Abyssinian Baptist Church, Sylvia’s Soul-Food Restaurant and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture also stand out on a Harlem tour.
Live gospel services and jazz nightclubs keep the area’s music tradition alive. Groups can attend these events or taste their way through the neighborhood on a Taste Harlem tour. These tours allow groups to sample soul food, Caribbean cuisine and authentic African fare while also learning about the area’s churches, architecture and rich history.
Other museums that provide context for a visit to the area are the Studio Museum of Harlem and the nearby National Jazz Museum in Harlem.
Central Park
As New York City underwent rapid growth during the mid-1800s, city officials with foresight recognized the need for a public park. Now a National Historic Landmark, the 843-acre Central Park not only sits next to some of the city’s most notable museums but remains a must-see attraction itself.
The beloved urban park offers groups many options, from Shakespeare in the Park in the summer to the historic Central Park Zoo. Groups that wander through the park should not be surprised if they recognize much of it, since numerous movies and television shows have been filmed there.
The park offers free guided tours to some of the park’s highlights, which include the Dairy, Sheep Meadow, Cherry Hill, the Lake and Literary Walk. These tours allow guests to learn the fascinating backstory of the park, which officially opened in 1873.
Guides describe the park’s construction, when more gunpowder was used to clear the area than was used at the Battle of Gettysburg during the American Civil War. Stops at the Bethesda Fountain and Bow Bridge also reveal why the park is called a living work of art.
For more information contact NYC & CO. at 212-484-1200 or go to www.nycgo.com
