Although demolished more than 20 years ago, New York's monumental Pennsylvania Station continues to hold a strong fascination for social and architectural historians alike. The demolition of the station became the turning point for the historic preservation movement in this country. The gateway to New York City for over 50 years was the masterpiece of McKim Mead and White, America's preeminent firm in the first decades of the 20th century. Diehl has crafted an engrossing, superbly researched account that recaptures the drama and grandeur of the station from its planning and construction, through its golden years in the 1920s, to its decline and senseless destruction in 1964. -- amazon.com
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