Conquering Gotham
Strippers. Secret porn stashes. Monopolies. Who knew architecture could be so much fun? A review of Conquering Gotham: A Gilded Age Epic -- The Construction of Penn Station and its Tunnels received an above-average review in the Economist last week. Author Jill Jonnes tells the story of Stanford White, the architect who once hired brunette strippers to pour red wine and blonde strippers to serve white wine at a party. That colorful history almost overshadows the fiery determination needed by railroad baron Alexander Cassatt to construct Penn Station, a "masterpiece in Roman classical style." This site has plenty of Penn Station photos, which is the only chance you'll have to see it. The building was demolished in 1963.