In his hands are blueprints to the old penn station and a model of the station to his side. Photographs of the old penn station the new york times. Old penn station follows a very specific piece of new york city history, but its not just a new york book. When the old penn station was demolished, new york lost its. Pennsylvania station, the busiest rail terminal in the country, turns 100 years old this fall. Old penn station by william low meet your next favorite book. Louis stettner and the glories of penn station the new. One of penn stations 22 famous eagles being removed from the buildings one. Book overview a beautiful tribute to the glory of the original pennsylvania railroad station during the first half of the 20th century, the original pennsylvania station was one of new york citys grandest landmarks, a palace in the middle of manhattan. Welcome back to period dramas, a weekly column that. Old penn station memorialized in new book of stunning. The paperback of the new yorks original penn station. Old penn station ebook by william low rakuten kobo. Old penn station memorialized in new book of stunning photos.
Whether that is something to celebrate may be unclear. New yorks penn station turns 100 years old the new york. He teaches at the fashion institute of technology in new york city. A holiday miracle has arrived early for local bookstores in penn station. May 20, 2017 despite mighty penn station being just over 50 years old, the pennsy authorized demolition of the landmark. New book documents the rise and tragic fall of nycs original. William low, author and illustrator of this book, was born and raised in new york city. The authors lush and warm paintings pay tribute to the lost architectural masterpiece by imagining them back into being. William lows dramatically illustrated picture book chronicles the rise and fall of new york citys original pennsylvania railroad terminal, as well as penn stations important place in the architectural and social history of the city. Beneath the city streets, railroad operations would remain relatively unchanged. During the first half of the 20th century, the original pennsylvania station was one of new york citys grandest landmarks, a palace in the middle of manhattan.
Old penn station by cobalt illustrations studio staff and. Diehl, author of the late, great pennsylvania station, has picked these films because they feature penn. A beautiful tribute to the glory of the original pennsylvania railroad station during the first half of the 20th century, the original pennsylvania station was one. He has illustrated numerous other books for children, including feathered dinosaurs by brenda z. William lows glorious illustrations pay close attention to detail while still encompassing the largescale grandeur of penn station. Old penn station book by william low illustrator 1. Oct 28, 20 10 gorgeous, nostalgic photos of new yorks old penn station. A photo of the original mckim, mead and white penn station on display in the amtrak concourse of pennsylvania station in new york, on feb. Old penn station is a wonderful informational picture book for young readers. A beautiful tribute to the glory of the original pennsylvania railroad station during the first half of the 20th century, the original pennsylvania station was one of new york citys grandest. Menu icon a vertical stack of three evenly spaced horizontal lines. In the text, he covers its history, from construction as a depot for the oncemighty pennsylvania railroad to its demolition and far less imposing replacement in the mid1960s. The new station, a tangle of subway lines and commuter rail, is.
Photos of the old penn station before it was demolished. The actual processing of the order is done by and items are shipped directly to you. Borders, the big nationwide chain that threatened the future of penn books 40 yearold family business when it opened in 2006, decided to close 51 stores across the country in june 2011 after filing for bankruptcy in february, sending book buyers in the area back to this independent store. What penn station used to look like will make you weep with. Jan 26, 2014 the razing of new yorks penn station in 1963 still ranks as one of the citys great architectural disasters. Good news for those pining for the old penn station which should be just about everybody whos encountered the awful thing that is its replacement. But he used old pictures and descriptions to make a picture book about it. The mckim, mead and white masterpiece, only 53 years old, became a martyr for the landmarks preservation cause when the air rights to penn station were sold to accommodate madison square garden.
Bookstore boom at penn station the midtown gazette. Buy a cheap copy of old penn station book by william low. And you can even find a couple of hints in broad daylight, too. One of their divisions is books for young readers, and mr. Apr 24, 2019 when the old penn station was demolished, new york lost its faith todays version is humiliating and bewildering. See historical penn station penn station tours untapped. As the terminal shared its name with several stations in other cities, it was sometimes called new york pennsylvania. Penn station is in midtown manhattan, close to herald square, the empire state building, koreatown, and macys herald square. Old penn station louis stettner photographs architectural. The authors research carefully addresses the whole history of the building, from construction to destruction, ending with an acknowledgment of its lasting legacy in terms of historical preservation. Comparing the new and the old penn station, yale architectural historian vincent scully once wrote, one entered the city like a god.
Old penn station is a childrens book written and illustrated by william low that gives a history of new yorks grand terminal. Since the demolition of the old penn station, train ridership has grown tenfold. An illustrated account of the construction, history, and demolition of one of the most famous railroad stations in america new york citys penn station. In her new book, conquering gotham, historian jill jonnes documents the drama behind the construction of new york citys old penn station. Get a comprehensive history of the past, present and future of penn station. Buy this book in an introductory note, low chinatown explains that when he selected new yorks original pennsylvania station as the subject of his masters thesis, he embarked on a journey to. The destruction of penn station one entered the city. Go back in time to see penn stations original construction on a guided tour with a professional guide hear about the devastating demolition in 1963 and uncover the preservation of the station in a later period get a behindthescenes look at the remnants, along with the center of the old station before it was rebuilt. After the railroad declared bankruptcy in the 1970s, washington took control of its assets and established a government. A new book about penn stations past, demolition, and future features interviews with untapped cities tour guide and chief experience officer. Published more than 50 years after the demolition of the old penn station, this book serves as a reminder that the terminal was built not only for architecture but also for people.
What penn station used to look like will make you weep. Movies, films and books featuring new yorks pennsylvania station. Penn station is at center with the square post office building to the left. William low is the author and illustrator of daytime nighttime, machines go to work, and the new york times best illustrated book old penn station. Explore our editors picks for the best kids books of the month. Mar 23, 2018 the old penn station is not completely gone. Movies, films and books featuring new yorks pennsylvania. Old penn station by william low during the first half of the 20th century, the original pennsylvania station was one of new york citys grandest landmarks, a palace in the middle of manhattan. It is an excellent piece that has received many awards. The old penn station was covered with statues of eagles and young women.
His firsthand knowledge of the subject was evident in this book especially through the detailed and accurate illustrations. Louis stettner and the glories of penn station the new york. This is a classic, beautiful book for history lovers, train lovers, and art lovers alike. If you poke around long enough in the basement of madison square garden, which is what the new penn station became, you can find a hint or two of the old magnificent penn still there. Nov 07, 2017 the main waiting room of old penn station. Despite mighty penn station being just over 50 years old, the pennsy authorized demolition of the landmark. Jul 20, 2015 since the demolition of the old penn station, train ridership has grown tenfold. Wen was so appreciative for the help that he sent me a copy of their thenlatest railroad book, old. Demolishing the old penn station failed to staunch the pennsys bleeding.
When the old penn station was demolished, new york lost. The samuel rea statue that once greeted commuters from the original penn station loggia. Pennsylvania station, also known as new york penn station or penn station, is the main intercity railroad station in new york city and the busiest in the western hemisphere, serving more than 600,000 passengers per weekday as of 2019. It would be like the first time i saw the grand canyon. The razing of new yorks penn station in 1963 still ranks as one of the citys great architectural disasters.
Station, but they are also terrific movies most of these films are on video and can be ordered from this page by clicking on the link. When the old penn station was demolished, new york lost its faith todays version is humiliating and bewildering. Paul kaplan writes critically acclaimed books in three series. The rise and tragic fall of an american landmark by paul m. Tom and untapped cities guide justin rivers walking down one of the original penn station departure staircases, still in operation.
In celebration of one of new york citys vanished glories, low recreates in words and pictures the ornately decorated, girdersandglassceiling wonder that was old penn station. Cameron learned about penn stations demolition after being awestruck by the celestial ceiling in grand central station when he was ten years old. At the time, the new york times wrote, we will probably be judged not by the. He shot most of the images that make up penn station, new york, with a basic leica m3 camera back in 1958five years before the icons destruction. May 11, 2007 the travesty of this loss is the subject of a heartfelt childrens book, old penn station, written and illustrated by william low. Jan 07, 2016 published more than 50 years after the demolition of the old penn station, this book serves as a reminder that the terminal was built not only for architecture but also for people. A beautiful tribute to the glory of the original pennsylvania rail. Photographing the people in new yorks old penn station. Most of these films are on video and can be ordered from this page by clicking on the link. The travesty of this loss is the subject of a heartfelt childrens book, old penn station, written and illustrated by william low. Pennsylvania station was a historic railroad station in new york city, named for the pennsylvania railroad prr, its builder and original tenant. William low an illustrated account of the construction, history, and demolition of one of the most famous railroad stations in america new york citys penn station.
I got a chance to ask william a few questions about old penn station recently. Old penn station has 1 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. The old pennsylvania station was a beautiful building before it was demolished to make room for madison square garden in 1963. See over a dozen indoor and outdoor old station remnants hidden in plain. The first penn station, which opened for business in 1910, is considered a martyr of new yorks neoclassical age, a fallen temple to the glories of transportation. Dec 11, 2015 good news for those pining for the old penn station which should be just about everybody whos encountered the awful thing that is its replacement. William lows dramatically illustrated picture book chronicles the rise and. They will also be featured in an exhibition at the pompidou center in paris next summer.
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