Moynihan Train Hall isn’t just a transit hub—it’s an unexpected haven for families! Welcoming millions of visitors each year, this state-of-the-art architectural gem offers more than just modern travel convenience. Whether you’re looking for a fun indoor adventure, a place to entertain little travelers before your train, or a unique stop on your NYC itinerary, Moynihan Train Hall delivers. From engaging spaces to museum-quality public art to bite-sized educational facts perfect for kids, we’ve got the inside scoop on why this destination is a must-visit for families.
Kids will look up in awe at the huge, expansive ceiling in the Main Concourse. The welcoming design offers natural light all day, rain-or-shine, via a soaring 92-foot-high skylight that holds an acre of glass! Play a guessing game of how many glass panels make up the skylight. (Answer: 3,160 panels are carefully housed within complex 3D steel geometrics.)
The clock suspended from the center of the Main Concourse hangs 25 feet above the floor and measures nearly 12 feet tall by over 6 feet wide. Watch this video to see the amazing teamwork by the engineers and tradespeople that installed the clock.
Learn of rail destinations far and wide as the arrival and departure boards update in real time—it’s an exciting way to build anticipation for your trip or dream about future travel. A network of dozens of colorful digital passenger information screens are displayed throughout the train hall. (Did you know Amtrak service runs from NYC to Miami? The trip takes about 30 hours.)
Grab a snack from NYC favorites including Magnolia Bakery (famous for cupcakes and banana pudding), Maman Bakery (for beloved chocolate chip cookies and pastries), Davey’s Ice Cream (also serving some of the best hot chocolate in NYC), Jacob’s Pickles (for kid-friendly comfort food), H&H Bagels (for a perfect meal on-the-go), Sauce Pizzeria (enough said) and more!
Throughout the train hall, you’ll find unique public art installations, including the “The Hive” by artist duo Elmgreen & Dragset. This jaw-dropping upside-down city is located at the 31st Street Midblock Entry Hall (halfway between 8th and 9th Avenues) and features dozens of illuminated high-rise buildings up to 16 feet tall suspended from the vaulted ceiling, a surreal and fantastical vision of a global metropolis that will wow kids (and adults) of all ages.
Also on Level One, look out over the Main Concourse from above, observe the patterns of travelers below, and take a family photo with the perfect backdrop! While you’re upstairs, don’t miss taking a peek at the fully operational James A. Farley Post Office, a preserved piece of history that can feel like stepping back in time. Kids can send a letter or postcard from the USPS inside, buy stamps, or take a photo in the beautifully restored lobby. Discover interesting design elements incorporated into the interior architecture including seals in the ceiling representing the nations in the postal union in 1914—several countries changed dramatically shortly thereafter—and ornate chandeliers. Did you know the unofficial motto of the Postal Service, “Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds,” originated from the inscription above the towering colonnade on the 8th Avenue entrance to the Farley Post Office?
This 45-pound remnant was part of sculptor Adoph Weinman’s 22 majestic eagle sculptures that once adorned the cornice of the 1910 Pennsylvania Station. Albert was saved by mechanic Albert Fritsch, and can be found in a small case displayed inside the LIRR Ticketing Customer Service across from escalators for Tracks 13 through 16 on the Main Concourse level.
The Moynihan Train Hall postmark medallion seal is inlaid at the base of the Midblock Hall’s grand stair landing, right next to the Moynihan Food Hall. This symbol was designed to reference the building’s unique historical evolution intertwining mail and train travel.
The Amtrak Baggage Claim in the Concourse Level features a wall-to-wall photo mural offering visitors a quick and engaging history of the original Pennsylvania Station and the Farley Building. The contemporary train hall was built inside of the existing landmarked building, preserving and restoring many of the original structural and decorative elements. View this short video on the history of the building for the full story!
The Moynihan Music Series features lively performances by a diverse group of rotating artists and musical ensembles in partnership with Sing for Hope. Check the website for listings.
Head down to the train hall’s lower concourse, adjacent to the A/C/E subway, where young train fanatics can safely watch the comings and goings of the Western Hemisphere’s busiest train station through large glass windows perched just above the trains below.
Just two blocks from the train hall, enter the elevated park via the High Line-Moynihan Connector, and explore the 1.45 mile-long elevated park venturing as far as the Meatpacking District. The Highline is famous for its site-specific public art installations. A 20-foot-tall pigeon named Dinosaur is currently roosting just blocks from the train hall.
