The Only "Apartment" in Grand Central Station

Grand Central Station in Manhattan is one of the most famous train stations in the world, and like many of New York's historic buildings, it has its own share of secrets. For instance, of the millions of people hurry through the station every year, most are unaware of the existence of a mysterious room called the "Campbell Apartment."

Tucked away in a hidden corner of the building, the magnificent space features an unusual mix of Medieval and Renaissance decor. There's an enormous fireplace, painted ceilings, and wood-paneled walls. This was once the strange and wonderful office of John W. Campbell.

A wealthy businessman, John Campbell built his Grand Central office in the early 1920s. He made sure his unusual workspace came with all the amenities--a kitchen, butler, pipe organ, and a Persian rug worth 3.5 million dollars in today's money. Very little is known about the eccentric Mr. Campbell, and some have suggested that he may have actually lived in the train station--a theory many experts reject.

When Campbell died in 1957, his "apartment" became the Grand Central jail. In the late 1990's, however, the space was restored to its former glory and used to house a bar. Finding it may require a little searching, but it's well worth the trouble.