Inside the Oculus, New York’s Train Station

The Interior of the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, which opened to the public in 2016, is spectacular, but that’s given since the glass-and-steel structure was designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. I had seen the outside of the building a few times when I was in New York City when it was still under construction. It was a pleasure to step finally inside to see it in person.

The official name is the World Trade Center station, and it is part of the re-branded PATH system within the World Trade Center complex in the Financial District of Manhattan. The World Trade Center station has five tracks and four platforms in the middle of a turning loop. Trains from New Jersey use the loop to turn around and head back to New Jersey. The platforms are located four floors below ground level. The floor immediately above the platforms is occupied by the station’s fare mezzanine. The New York City Subway’s WTC Cortlandt station is adjacent to and above the mezzanine.

Inside, the large plaza is bright and open, there are multiple stores (Including the Apple store), and since it is still considered new, it is busy with locals and tourists alike. If you like symmetry, Oculus will deliver. The ribs of the structure are beautiful. There are a couple of “viewing” balconies that soak up the architecture, and if you look closely, you will see the new Freedom Tower through the glass roof. Since I was there during Christmas, you may see some holiday decorations in the photos below:

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PS. There are a lot more photographs from New York City, so if you are interested I put together a little silent photo slideshow below:

Here are 10 lesser-known facts about New York City:

1. The original name of New York City was New Amsterdam, and it was founded by the Dutch in the early 17th century.
2. The first recorded baseball game was played in New York City in 1846, and the New York Yankees have won more World Series championships than any other team in history.
3. The New York City subway system is one of the largest in the world, with 472 stations and over 245 miles of track.
4. The city has more billionaires than any other city in the world and is home to some of the wealthiest people on the planet.
5. Central Park, one of the most famous parks in the world, was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux in the mid-19th century and covers over 840 acres.
6. The Empire State Building, one of the most iconic buildings in the city, was completed in 1931 and was the tallest building in the world until 1970.
7. The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy, was a gift from the people of France to the United States and was dedicated in 1886.
8. New York City is the birthplace of many famous musicians, including Billy Joel, Madonna, Jay-Z, and Lady Gaga.
9. The city has a diverse population, with people from all over the world calling it home, and over 800 different languages spoken within its borders.
10. The 1969 Stonewall riots, which took place in Greenwich Village, are widely considered to be the catalyst for the modern LGBTQ rights movement.