New York's most famous depot, Grand Central Terminal, celebrates its 90th birthday this year. Read on about its history and how it almost reached the end of the line.

Tucked away on 42nd Street and Park Ave. and dwarfed by skyscrapers is an important piece of history that was almost lost forever.

Grand Central Terminal is one of the coolest places in the city. For starters, the building itself is beautiful. It is an example of the Beaux Arts style of architecture, designed by Whitney Warren in 1913.

Before you go inside, check out the front of the building. It has a 13-foot clock and statues of Greek gods Hercules, Minerva and Mercury. Once inside, the building seems to magically transport you back to another time.

Grand Central is called a terminal and not a station because it is a final destination stop. Luxury train travel was the way to go during the early 1900s. Construction on Grand Central Terminal began in 1869 when steam trains were in their glory.

The first building was called Grand Central Depot. Three railroad buildings, Hudson River Railroad, New York and Harlem, and the New York and New Haven railroads were adjacent to Grand Central Depot and were actually connected to it after a renovation in 1898. From then on, the complex was called Grand Central Terminal.

Heavy congestion from travelers and smoke from the train engines were a problem. The current two-level terminal was built to correct this.

Greek gods Hercules, Mercury and Minerva watch the clock at Grand Central Terminal.
- NY Post Jose Rivera

The cost to build the terminal was $43 million, a lot in 1913. But the price was offset by the sale of air rights - the space over the building.

It's almost impossible to think that the building you see today was almost torn down to build a skyscraper. This is what happened to the original Penn Station. Thanks in large part to the efforts of former first lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Grand Central Terminal was preserved as a historic landmark and a massive restoration effort was put in place to bring the building back to its original state of glory.

The terminal keeps up with the times. Train signals are now computerized and a simulator was built in 1990 to train and certify engineers.

One of the biggest jobs of the restoration was the vaulted ceiling. Here, you can see something that you won't see outside at night - lots of stars. Because the city is always lit at night, it's not the best place for real star-gazing, But the ceiling inside Grand Central looks like a glorious night sky.

If you like trains, subways included, The New York Transit Museum is a fun place to stop. Here, you can learn about the history of New York's mass transportation system. The subway is celebrating a 100-year birthday, too.

No jacket required these days, but the Oyster Bar still has its original elegance and great food.
- Circa 1913 courtesy of Oyster Bar

Though there are many great things inside the terminal, it is a working facility. Don't stand still in the middle of the concourse during rush hour. More than 72 million travelers raced to their trains last year.

No trip to the terminal would be complete without sampling the great food. There is something for everyone.

If you like shrimp, fish or other seafood goodies and want a little history, The Oyster Bar has been in the terminal since the beginning and is celebrating its 90th birthday. Having a meal there is like going back in time. With its Gustavino-tiles and vaulted ceiling, the restaurant features every kind of seafood you could want.

Today's lesson fulfills the following New York standards: E1c, E2d, E3c, E3d, D4a, E4b, E4a, E5b. Art Standard 2.

Create a 90th birthday card for Grand Central Terminal.

Use the Internet to learn more about the Beaux Arts style. Make a list of distinctive features. Can you think of other buildings in New York that have the same style as Grand Central Terminal?

What would you do on a class trip to Grand Central Terminal? Make a list of activities and compare with your classmates.

Write an essay on what you think life was like in 1913 when Grand Central Terminal was completed.