5. Behind the Tiffany Clock

Measuring in at 13 feet in diameter, the clock that crowns the exterior facade of Grand Central Terminal is the largest Tiffany clock in the world. Access to the clock for maintenance and cleaning is obtained by going up a very narrow staircase that leads to a small space behind the clock face. In order to clean the front face of the clock, the pane of glass with the numeral six opens up like a window. This also provides a unique view of Park Avenue for those select few who get to look out of it.

The Tiffany Clock restoration took 12 years in part becuase the staircase that leads to the clock is so narrow that each piece had to be removed individually, according to the restorers at Rohlf’s Stained and Leaded Glass. There was also extensive damage since its installation in 1914, so the process that began in 1992 involved both repair and replication, in the case of missing parts. Then everything had to be reinstalled piece by piece.