New York’s Original Penn Station: The Rise and Fall of an American Landmark

Opened in 1910, New York’s Penn Station was one of the most beautiful stations in the world. The Pennsylvania Railway had accomplished what few had imagined: building tunnels underneath the Hudson and East rivers. This book talk chronicles the story of Penn Station from the laying of the first tracks to its demise in the mid-1960s. It looks at the visionary business leader Alexander Cassatt and efforts of the famed McKim, Mead, & White and their inspiration from the Gare d’Orsay in Paris and Baths of Caracalla in Rome. The railway would also facilitate rail travel from Manhattan to South Florida. Through its destruction, the historic preservation movement including in Miami Beach was born. During his presentation, author Paul Kaplan will display historic photos, bringing new life to one of America’s most beloved bygone buildings.