If you look up at Grand Central Terminal, you’ll see a mural of the constellations. And if you look near the constellation Pisces, you’ll spot a hole.
So… what is that hole doing there?
Back in 1957, when the Soviet Union launched Sputnik, the U.S. government wanted to keep the American public calm—and confident—about the nation’s progress in the space race.
So what did they do?
They put a Redstone missile—the largest ballistic missile at the time—on display for three weeks right here in Grand Central Terminal.
According to the legend, some engineer miscalculated, and the missile turned out to be too tall to fit inside the terminal upright… so they supposedly cut a hole in the ceiling to make it fit.
But that’s not exactly true.
The hole was cut into the ceiling—but not because of a math mistake. It was made to lower a cable that would help lift the missile into place.
Still, the hole remains. And while tourists gaze up at the constellations, few realize they’re also staring at a leftover piece of Cold War propaganda.