Analysis of Quantative Data

               In the bargraph above, data displays Penn Station’s different monuments. As the data indicates, the graph shows that Penn Station, although ‘historic,’ has few monuments to boast about. In fact, Penn Station technically has no monuments; however, much of the artwork at the station has monumental qualities. Even by just analyzing the monument types of interest one can easily infer that Penn Station lacks the historical grandeur of Grand Central. In addition, consider the actual numbers of each category. The very observation that Penn Station has more photography than murals, tells a person that the station is more of a commuter's hub than a historical tourist site.

                After visiting Penn Station and gaining a feel for the place, I have two question regarding the station’s history. First, when the Railway demolished the original Pennsylvania Station, why did the company not think of preserving at least a piece or a legacy of the old station? The only memorial one has of the Beaux-Art palace like station are photographs. And second, does the original location of Penn Station have a monument set in honor of the great legacy of the old building? There must be at least a plaque or pillar to signify where the station was originally erected.

                Lastly, if I had more time, I would have collected data on the amount of human interactions for all the "monuments," which was actually done by another NCC student. Surprisingly, not many people noticed the photography hanging on the pillars near the track gates. It would be interesting to know who on a daily basis gives the artwork a second look, or complements the sculpture with music, or uses a certain site as a rendezvous point. In other words, I would of liked to have quantified people’s awareness of Penn Station’s historical value.