The one spot was left as a reminder of how much work was done. Workers got up on the scaffolding with buckets of soap and water and paintbrushes and cleaned away the years of build-up. Over time the ceiling became coated with thick grime which was finally removed in 1998 when the terminal underwent a massive restoration spearheaded by Jackie Kenndey and other preservationists. There were a great many smokers among the nearly half-million people who passed through the terminal every day since its opening. That is just how filthy the original beautiful sky-blue ceiling had become after decades of accumulated tar and nicotine smoke. Just past that, where the blue and white meet, there is a small blackish rectangle. Look all the way over to Cancer the Crab in the northwest corner of the ceiling. Some fun trivia: In the movie Madagascar, Melman the giraffe breaks the clock while the animals are in the station trying to catch a train to Connecticut. The clock helps people to not be late for their trains and prevents safety hazards with people running for trains that are about to pull out of the station. This is on purpose and is consistent with every clock inside the station. The clock is made of brass and it is said that the clock faces are made out of precious opals and that the value of the clock is well over $10 million!Īlso, if you take a look at the clock and then a quick peek at your phone or watch, you will notice that the time on the Grand Central clock is a minute or so ahead. The clock has been a long-standing meeting spot for New Yorkers. The four-sided clock is possibly the most iconic feature of Grand Central.

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