8. The Grand Central Eagles
Grand Central is home to two cast-iron eagle sculptures, one below the Glory of Commerce sculpture and the other above Grand Central Market. Each weighs about 4,000 pounds and has a 13-foot wingspan. Prior to the construction of Grand Central Terminal, there were about a dozen eagle sculptures, but after the original Grand Central Station was demolished, some of the eagles were transferred to other locations across the state.
The eagles that stand at the Terminal today were dispersed to Bronxville, Westchester, and Garrison, Putnam County before being returned to Grand Central. Other eagles are currently at places like a private home in Kings Point, Nassau County, a train station in Sleepy Hollow, Westchester, and Long Island‘s Vanderbilt Museum. Today, the two at Grand Central help to keep pigeons away with their fearsome expressions while also revealing to passersby the United States national emblem representing freedom.