I just finished Conquering Gotham by Jill Jonnes. It is an historical narrative of the building of Penn Station (and its tunnels) by the Pennsylvania Railroad.

I'm going to skip the review (dirty politicians, distinguished engineers, despicable journalists, dastardly union leaders and a couple of dashing industrialists that make Jeffrey R Immelt look like a dandy) and post links* to some of the main characters.

Alexander J. Cassatt
McKim, Mead and White
Daniel Hudson Burnham
Samuel Rea
Evelyn Nesbit
William Randolph Hearst
Seth Low
Richard Croker
Colonel DeWitt Clinton Haskins
Gustav Lindenthal
Mary Cassatt

This is a gripping tale of blood, toil, tears and sweat and it makes you wonder whether or not we squandered such an embarrassment of riches. I will be taking Burgoyne by rail to the Pennsylvania Railroad Museum in Strasburg, PA this summer to see the statue of Alexander Cassatt that once adorned the steps leading from the Arcade to the General Waiting Room at Penn Station.

Update
I forgot August Belmont Jr.! A big omission considering his namesake is on one of my favorite places to drop some coin.

*Wikipedia Free

Labels: books, history, railroads