WEBVTT

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New York City's iconic Grand Central Terminal turns 100 today.

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With its vaulted halls and beaux arts architecture, it's far from being a simple train station.

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It's also the Big Apple's second-most popular tourist destination. Richard Roth went to celebrate there.

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What time is the next train?

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In North by Northwest, Cary Grant asked the question millions of passengers have posed since the majestic Grant Central Terminal opened 100 years ago.

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Each day, 750,000 people pour through Grand Central.

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What do you think, Grand Central, 100 years old?

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I think it's fantastic.

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We love Grand Central. It never looked better.

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There is poetry in this place. It is a warm, inviting place for something as large and cathedral-like.

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The construction of Grand Central paved the way for multi-levels of track service.

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And soon the era of luxury train travel arrived.

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But as plane travel soared and the railways ran into bankruptcy, Grand Central was nearly demolished.

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A civic fight led by a former U.S. first lady helped save Grand Central.

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If you destroy your past, something in people dies.

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Now, in a New York minute, you can spot a wedding, a modeling shoot...

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It's absolutely stunning.

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...and a squash tournament.

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You know, with these mysteries and things...

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Tour guide Dan Brucker revealed the secrets of Grand Central.

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Look up, people don't even notice a ceiling to mirror the constellation[s].

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Move, move, chop, chop, in the corner, let's go!

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Another secret is the whispering gallery on a lower level.

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Even though I am standing 30 feet away from you, speaking in a low voice, you can probably hear every word I'm saying.

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We are now descending into the deepest basement in New York City.

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This sub-basement is not even on Grand Central maps and it hums with history.

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This is the most top-secret location inside Grand Central Terminal, the M42. More than decades ago, troops stood guard to prevent attacks on the power system.

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During the Second World War, there was a great fear,

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well-founded that saboteurs, that Nazi spies, Nazi agents, would make their way down here.

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Out front, the clock face has the world's largest example of Tiffany glass.

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Though, people throughout history have told loved ones, "Meet me at the clock indoors, above the information booth."

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During the last a hundred years, what's the most frequent question you get from passengers?

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Oh, my God. Where's the Apple store?

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The terminal can't run without train engineers.

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Congratulations.

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A smaller celebration for a veteran railman who guided his last train, concluding 36 years of service.

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Today is my last day, but, yes, 100 years is really something.