A Closer Look: The Central Terminal
Buffalo's Central Terminal opened in 1929 to serve more than 200 trains and 10,000 passengers daily. The 17-story Art Deco style station was designed by architects Alfred Fellheimer and Steward Wagner for the New York Central Railroad. The Buffalo Central Terminal was placed on both the National and State Registers of Historical Places in 1984.Â
Sunlight streams into the main concourse of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
The sun shines on the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Original paint is seen on the wall of the dining room inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Rachel Hezel Rzayev, general counsel and project manager, walks outside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight streams into the main concourse of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Material samples sit on a table inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Guastavino tiles lead up an archway near the ceiling of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Conductor Cash Fare receipts sit on display at the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
A piece of the outside signage is put on display on a table inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Light streams in above the ticket booths inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
The Gastavino tiles make patterns along the arches inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
An American flag hangs inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight spotlights gears on a window inside the Central Terminal used to control the large windows on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Construction lights hang in a hallway inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Panes of the original glass used in the the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
CB Emanuel developer Ben Upshaw, left, and Rachel Hezel Rzayev, general counsel and project manager, right, look out over the main concourse of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight streams into the main concourse of the Central Terminal as the historic concourse clock casts a shadow on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
A light switch is seen on the wall inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
The Red Caps room in the main concourse of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Doors, stabilizing structures, and extension cords lay on the floor inside the the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Cracks are lit by sunlight on the floor of the main concourse inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight streams into the main concourse of the Central Terminal.
A buffalo sculpture is lit by the setting sun inside the main concourse of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Signage for the liquor store is seen on the main concourse of the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight highlights details of the trim of the Union News Company booth inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Details above an entrance to the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
The main concourse clock inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight streams into the main concourse of the Central Terminal as the historic clock is reflected in a puddle on the ground on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
The Union News Company booth inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Train platforms are lit by the setting sun outside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Train platforms are lit by the setting sun outside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight paints a dramatic outline of an entrance at the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
The Buffalo Central Terminal building is lit by the setting sun from the baggage building on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Sunlight streams through the baggage building inside the Central Terminal on Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2024. (Joshua Bessex/Buffalo News)
Revitalization of the East Side’s art deco marvel – with its 16-story tower, grand concourse, mezzanine and baggage building – has defied easy…
This series has taken Buffalo News photographers inside, outside, above and, on occasion, underneath local landmarks and to places most people…
