America's Favorite Architecture

To my surprise and delight as an ex-New Yorker, a piece of the old Penn Station is two blocks away from my home in Hyde Park, Kansas City, MO., where I have resided since last summer. Two majestic eagles and art deco goddesss that graced one of Penn Station's entrances now flank a national Boy Scouts memorial here.

There are still a few original bannisters left throughout the building, but that is about it.

"One used to enter the city as a King, now one scurries in like a rat."

At least we have the late, great Pennsylvania station to thank for its legacy. The minute it was gone, and replaced with such ugly structures as it was, seemingly every New Yorker held great regret and worked to save other grand buildings. If not for Penn Station's untimely demise, we might not have Grand Central Terminal.

37 years ago I was writing a college paper about the loss of Penn Station. I was in the new so-called Penn Station and overheard a conversation between an arriving traveler and a maintenance worker.
Traveler: How do I get out of here?
Maintenance worker: Where you want to go at?
Traveler: Out. Anyplace.
- - It was the only response to that place.

At the Long Island Railroad entrance on 34th Street there is a big 4-face bronze clock that was in the old Pennsylvania Station, there is also the southbound exit from the IRT into Penn Station with tiled arches that was part of old station's subway entrance...as well the tunnel into Penn Station there has old Pennsylvania Railroad colors sign to Penn Station...
I would also point out that the Landmarks Commission didn't save the Metropolitan Opera House, didn't save the Singer Building, didn't save the Greek Revival Lackawanna Ferry terminal at Barclay Street, and I read where it has also neglected to care about the pending loss of the amazing New Century warehouses north of the Lehigh-Starrett Building where steam pulled freights once went through the grand arches into the building from avenue to avenue..

I also am confused at the nomination of a building gone for 40 years, a surviving incredible railroad terminal is at Hoboken, and it comes with a ferry concourse only second to the Great Hall at Verailles in volume, and that is the only "ugly" part of the art nouveau station.

I can only call its destruction as an act of commercial terrorism. This was the most beautiful building in the US and was destroyed for a glorified basketball court. The rebuilding is mired in red tape, but I only hope it's half as good as the original.

I can only call its destruction as an act of commercial terrorism. This was the most beautiful building in the US and was destroyed for a glorified basketball court. The rebuilding is mired in red tape, but I only hope it's half as good as the original.

Columnist James Lileks say it best when he said they ought to dig up the bones of the people responsible for tearing down Penn Stations so that they never know any peace...

I live in New york and just walked around Penn Station to see what remains from the original. Yes there are a few brass and iron staircases as well as the Rea statue out front. I also found a 1948 bronze plaque honoring baggage claim personnel who died during WWII. One thing I found interesting is the red, cast-iron partition, with beveled-glass windows at the entrance of the LIRR waiting area. The original is surely missed.