Grand Central Terminal Exhibits
During the Columbus Celebration, Vanderbilt Hall in Grand Central
Terminal gets a makeover – Italian style. In recent years, we have
organized exhibits about our Grand Marshals. Veneto Festival complete with a replica of the façade of the Doge's Palace, winged lions, and a 14-foot tall steel tree of Murano glass creations. Legendary race car driver
Mario Andretti, and a display of five of his race-winning cars.
Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia with a rare
early printing of the Declaration of Independence, an original document
that was the nation’s first legislation on immigration, and a dazzling
recreation of the Supreme Court Building façade and the courtroom
itself.
In 2009, the historic grandeur of the Piazza San Marco and the soaring beauty of the Dolomites came to life in an exhibition called
Veneto: A Bridge Between Venice and New York. Hundreds of thousands of affluent commuters, New Yorkers and tourists from around the world sampled bottled water and espresso, jazz and theatrical performances and examples of the region's remarkable craftsmen. Thousands more participated in invitation-only wine tastings and a Venetian Aperol Spritz aperitif hour. The workmanship of artisans was evident in the display of Murano glass and
Piccoli Passi (Small Steps), a unique collection of miniature handmade shoes, made by Pietro Martello, a skilled artisan from the Riviera del Brenta. Audiences also saw the delight of Fondazione Aida's
TheHarlequin's Secret, set in the Republic of Venice.
In 2006, we presented an exhibit that chronicled the exemplary career of then-Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace (pronounced PA-chay in Italian!). And in 2007 we spotlighted the brilliant life and career of Lidia Matticchio Bastianich, the noted restaurateur and entrepreneur whose family fled the formerly Italian region of Istria when the area was ceded to Yugoslavia in the wake of World War II. Ms. Bastianich and other internationally recognized chefs came to Grand Central to give a series of cooking demonstrations.
Images of past Grand Central Terminal Exhibits
Click on a thumbnail below to view the gallery.
