Photo from Library of Congress

October 28, 2015 marks the 52nd anniversary of the sound of jackhammers demolishing New York City’s original Pennsylvania Station. The off-Broadway play The Eternal Space examines an unlikely friendship forged during the demolition, and we’ve asked its playwright Justin Rivers (also the tour guide for our popular Remnants of Penn Station tour) to share the top 10 secrets of the original Penn Station, including some never-before-published photographs from the show.

Also make sure to join our Remnants of Penn Station tour, lead by Justin himself:

10. The Last Building Standing in Original Penn Station Complex Was a Pub

Photo from Library of Congress

The Pennsylvania Railroad had to demolish 500 buildings and displace roughly 6,000 people to build Penn Station. The last building kept standing and operating was a pub so the construction workers had somewhere to drink. The company did not pay relocation expenses.

Next: #9 Before Penn Station, Rail Passengers Had to Ferry Over the Hudson River

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