How to build Grand Central Terminal in Minecraft

The Beaux-Arts gateway to New York. Three giant arched windows framed by paired columns face 42nd Street, crowned by the Tiffany clock and the Mercury, Hercules and Minerva sculpture group. The Pershing Square Viaduct sweeps over 42nd Street and wraps the building, busy with yellow cabs. Inside: Vanderbilt Hall with its chandeliers, the Main Concourse with the sky-blue vaulted ceiling picked out in gold constellations, the four-faced brass clock on the information booth, twin marble staircases, ticket windows, and numbered track gates leading out to the platforms, where commuter trains wait under Park Avenue.

• DifficultyExpert
• Size77 × 96, 49 layers tall
• Blocks24,853
• Build time10+ hours
• CategoryFamous Landmarks

Open the interactive 3D plan above to build it one layer at a time: every layer has a numbered top-down plan, a block list and full-screen step-by-step instructions you can tick off as you go. You can also download it for Litematica, WorldEdit or Minecraft Bedrock, or view it in your room in AR.

Materials list

Building tips

1. Lay out the floor plan first: Vanderbilt Hall behind the facade, the Main Concourse behind that, then the train yard to the north. Everything else hangs off those three boxes.
2. The concourse ceiling is a shallow barrel vault. Build one cross-section arch of light blue at the east end, check it from the floor, then copy it west along the hall.
3. Place the gold stars and zodiac lines as you lay the ceiling. Going back to swap blocks 25 blocks up is slow even in creative.
4. Recess the big windows one block behind the wall face, and use iron bars between glass panes for the mullions. The shadow line sells the depth.
5. Build the viaduct deck on pillars before the facade columns so you can stand on it while you work on the upper storeys.
6. Hang chains of iron bars for the chandeliers and use lanterns and glowstone so the hall glows at night.

Step-by-step: all 49 layers

1. Layer 1 White Terracotta ×1139, Smooth Stone ×561, Gray Concrete ×516, Gravel ×336, Polished Andesite ×284, Brown Terracotta ×240, Block of Iron ×192, Smooth Sandstone ×186, White Concrete ×128, Stone Bricks ×89, Yellow Concrete ×77, Spruce Planks ×48, Pink Terracotta ×34, Deepslate Tiles ×11
2. Layer 2 Smooth Stone ×286, Smooth Sandstone ×180, Yellow Concrete ×180, Gray Concrete ×176, Polished Andesite ×156, Stone Bricks ×107, Black Concrete ×76, Cut Sandstone ×35, Block of Gold ×28, Dark Oak Planks ×21, Sandstone Stairs ×18, Glass Pane ×15, Deepslate Tile Slab ×11, Deepslate Tiles ×11, Dark Oak Fence ×8, Dark Oak Stairs ×8, Spruce Door ×6, Stone Brick Wall ×2, Chest ×1
3. Layer 3 Smooth Quartz Block ×156, Smooth Sandstone ×134, Blue Concrete ×101, Stone Bricks ×99, Cut Sandstone ×35, Gray Concrete ×32, Gray Stained Glass ×32, Yellow Concrete ×32, Iron Bars ×24, Block of Gold ×23, Glass Pane ×23, Block of Iron ×20, Sandstone Stairs ×18, Black Stained Glass ×16, Black Concrete ×14, Dark Oak Fence ×14, Deepslate Tile Slab ×11, Deepslate Tiles ×11, Dark Oak Slab ×8, Sea Lantern ×6, Spruce Stairs ×6, Birch Fence ×4, Stone Brick Wall ×4, Red Concrete ×3
4. Layer 4 Smooth Quartz Block ×160, Smooth Sandstone ×108, Stone Bricks ×91, Black Stained Glass ×83, Cut Sandstone ×35, Gray Concrete ×32, Yellow Carpet ×32, Glass Pane ×29, Block of Iron ×27, Iron Bars ×24, Block of Gold ×23, Gray Stained Glass ×20, Sandstone Stairs ×18, Dark Oak Fence ×17, Black Concrete ×14, Deepslate Tile Slab ×11, Deepslate Tiles ×11, Birch Fence ×4, Lantern ×4, Polished Blackstone ×4, Stone Brick Wall ×4
5. Layer 5 Smooth Quartz Block ×156, Smooth Sandstone ×126, Block of Iron ×120, Light Gray Concrete ×60, Stone Bricks ×53, Stone Brick Slab ×38, Cut Sandstone ×35, Block of Gold ×33, Gray Concrete ×32, Glass Pane ×21, Smooth Quartz Slab ×21, Red Wool ×18, Sandstone Stairs ×18, Polished Blackstone ×16, White Wool ×16, Dark Oak Fence ×13, Deepslate Tile Slab ×11, Deepslate Tiles ×11, Black Concrete ×6, Lantern ×6, Birch Fence ×4, Stone Brick Wall ×4
6. Layer 6 Smooth Quartz Block ×160, Smooth Sandstone ×88, Stone Bricks ×57, Cut Sandstone ×36, Gray Concrete ×32, Polished Andesite ×21, Polished Blackstone ×20, Sandstone Stairs ×18, Block of Gold ×15, Lantern ×13, Deepslate Tile Slab ×11, Deepslate Tiles ×11, Sea Lantern ×8, Birch Fence ×4, Stone Brick Wall ×4, Red Wool ×2, White Wool ×2
7. Layer 7 Gray Concrete ×1175, Smooth Sandstone ×575, Smooth Quartz Block ×192, White Concrete ×100, Stone Bricks ×41, Cut Sandstone ×27, Black Concrete ×26, Quartz Block ×24, Polished Blackstone ×20, Sandstone Stairs ×18, Block of Gold ×15, Yellow Stained Glass Pane ×12, Deepslate Tile Slab ×11, Orange Stained Glass Pane ×5, Birch Fence ×4, Stone Brick Wall ×4
8. Layer 8 Iron Bars ×207, Smooth Quartz Block ×196, Black Concrete ×99, Yellow Concrete ×78, Smooth Sandstone ×62, Quartz Slab ×39, Quartz Pillar ×29, Cut Sandstone ×28, Quartz Block ×28, Birch Fence ×26, Block of Gold ×19, Dark Oak Fence ×10, Dark Oak Stairs ×10, Lantern ×10, Polished Blackstone Bricks ×4, Sea Lantern ×4, Glowstone ×2, Stone Brick Wall ×2
9. Layer 9 Smooth Quartz Block ×153, Smooth Sandstone ×66, Gray Stained Glass ×52, Yellow Concrete ×52, Black Concrete ×47, Cut Sandstone ×36, Quartz Slab ×30, Quartz Pillar ×29, Black Stained Glass ×26, Dark Oak Fence ×26, Glass Pane ×18, Block of Gold ×17, Yellow Stained Glass Pane ×13, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×12, White Carpet ×10, Iron Bars ×9, Orange Stained Glass Pane ×6, Lantern ×4
10. Layer 10 Smooth Quartz Block ×119, Smooth Sandstone ×70, Yellow Carpet ×52, Black Concrete ×47, Glass Pane ×42, Cut Sandstone ×36, Quartz Pillar ×30, Lantern ×26, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Iron Bars ×17, Block of Gold ×10
11. Layer 11 Smooth Quartz Block ×115, Smooth Sandstone ×72, Black Concrete ×47, Glass Pane ×42, Quartz Pillar ×31, Cut Sandstone ×28, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Iron Bars ×15, Yellow Stained Glass Pane ×10, Block of Gold ×7, Orange Stained Glass Pane ×5, Lantern ×2, End Rod ×1, Glowstone ×1
12. Layer 12 Smooth Quartz Block ×131, Smooth Sandstone ×74, Black Concrete ×47, Glass Pane ×42, Quartz Pillar ×31, Cut Sandstone ×28, Iron Bars ×15, Block of Gold ×14, Quartz Stairs ×12, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×8
13. Layer 13 Smooth Quartz Block ×110, Smooth Sandstone ×76, Iron Bars ×58, Cut Sandstone ×32, Quartz Pillar ×31, Glass Pane ×25, Black Concrete ×21
14. Layer 14 Smooth Quartz Block ×114, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×67, Cut Sandstone ×42, Quartz Pillar ×31, Black Concrete ×21, Iron Bars ×15, Quartz Slab ×12
15. Layer 15 Smooth Quartz Block ×90, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×67, Cut Sandstone ×33, Quartz Pillar ×31, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Block of Gold ×19, Iron Bars ×15
16. Layer 16 Smooth Quartz Block ×94, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×67, Cut Sandstone ×36, White Stained Glass ×34, Quartz Pillar ×31, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Lantern ×20, Iron Bars ×15, Red Wool ×14, Block of Gold ×8, Glowstone ×5
17. Layer 17 Smooth Quartz Block ×90, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×43, Iron Bars ×39, Cut Sandstone ×33, Quartz Pillar ×31, End Rod ×20, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Block of Gold ×14, White Wool ×14
18. Layer 18 Smooth Quartz Block ×94, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×49, Iron Bars ×38, Cut Sandstone ×36, Quartz Pillar ×31, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Red Wool ×14, Block of Gold ×8
19. Layer 19 Smooth Quartz Block ×110, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×67, Cut Sandstone ×33, Quartz Pillar ×31, Iron Bars ×20, Block of Gold ×18, White Wool ×14, Quartz Stairs ×12
20. Layer 20 Smooth Quartz Block ×114, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×67, Cut Sandstone ×39, Quartz Pillar ×31, Iron Bars ×20, Quartz Slab ×12, Red Wool ×9, Blue Wool ×3, White Wool ×2
21. Layer 21 Cut Sandstone ×173, Smooth Quartz Block ×90, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×43, Quartz Pillar ×31, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Iron Bars ×14, White Wool ×12, Blue Wool ×2
22. Layer 22 Smooth Quartz Block ×112, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Glass Pane ×49, Lantern ×32, Quartz Pillar ×31, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Iron Bars ×20, Cut Sandstone ×9, Red Wool ×9, Blue Wool ×3, White Wool ×2
23. Layer 23 Smooth Quartz Block ×136, Light Blue Concrete ×126, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Quartz Pillar ×31, Iron Bars ×28, Gray Stained Glass Pane ×20, Glass Pane ×13, White Wool ×12, Cut Sandstone ×9, Chiseled Quartz Block ×6, Blue Wool ×2
24. Layer 24 Smooth Quartz Block ×171, Light Blue Concrete ×126, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Quartz Pillar ×23, Glass Pane ×20, Chiseled Quartz Block ×14, Quartz Stairs ×12, Iron Bars ×10, Cut Sandstone ×9, Red Wool ×9, Blue Wool ×3, Quartz Block ×3, White Wool ×2
25. Layer 25 Smooth Quartz Block ×247, Light Blue Concrete ×126, Smooth Sandstone ×81, Quartz Pillar ×23, Iron Bars ×15, Cut Sandstone ×9
26. Layer 26 Smooth Sandstone ×249, Block of Gold ×198, Smooth Quartz Block ×189, Quartz Stairs ×62, Light Blue Concrete ×60, Chiseled Quartz Block ×12, Quartz Pillar ×11, Glass Pane ×4, Iron Bars ×2
27. Layer 27 Smooth Stone ×567, Smooth Quartz Block ×381, Light Blue Concrete ×114, Smooth Sandstone ×63, Block of Gold ×16, Quartz Pillar ×11, White Concrete ×2, Red Concrete ×1
28. Layer 28 Smooth Quartz Block ×216, Quartz Slab ×114, Light Blue Concrete ×98, Polished Andesite ×66, Chiseled Quartz Block ×20, Yellow Terracotta ×16, Block of Gold ×14, Birch Fence ×12, Quartz Pillar ×11, White Concrete ×5, Smooth Stone ×2
29. Layer 29 Light Blue Concrete ×260, Smooth Quartz Block ×218, Yellow Terracotta ×75, Polished Andesite ×66, Block of Gold ×41, Quartz Pillar ×11, Andesite ×4, Glowstone ×4, Sea Lantern ×3, White Concrete ×3, Chiseled Quartz Block ×2, Smooth Stone ×2, Black Concrete ×1
30. Layer 30 Light Blue Concrete ×297, Smooth Quartz Block ×218, Yellow Terracotta ×99, Block of Gold ×45, Smooth Stone ×44, Andesite ×3, Chiseled Quartz Block ×3, Black Concrete ×2, Glowstone ×2, Red Concrete ×2, White Concrete ×2, Sea Lantern ×1
31. Layer 31 Smooth Stone ×1509, Smooth Quartz Block ×43, Andesite ×11, White Concrete ×4, Chiseled Quartz Block ×3, Block of Gold ×2, Sea Lantern ×2, Black Concrete ×1
32. Layer 32 Glass ×440, Quartz Slab ×172, Smooth Quartz Block ×41, Smooth Stone ×14, Andesite ×7, Chiseled Quartz Block ×4, White Concrete ×4, Block of Gold ×3, Black Concrete ×1
33. Layer 33 Smooth Quartz Slab ×56, Smooth Stone ×12, Andesite ×8, Smooth Quartz Block ×7, Block of Gold ×4, White Concrete ×2, Red Concrete ×1
34. Layer 34 Polished Andesite ×15, Smooth Stone ×12, Block of Gold ×3, Andesite ×2, Quartz Slab ×2
35. Layer 35 Smooth Stone ×14, Andesite ×4, Chiseled Quartz Block ×1
36. Layer 36 Smooth Stone ×12, Andesite ×5
37. Layer 37 Andesite ×13, Smooth Stone ×4
38. Layer 38 Andesite ×12, Smooth Stone ×4
39. Layer 39 Andesite ×15
40. Layer 40 Andesite ×8, Smooth Stone ×6, Block of Gold ×1
41. Layer 41 Smooth Stone ×7, Andesite ×6
42. Layer 42 Smooth Stone ×11, Andesite ×6
43. Layer 43 Smooth Stone ×12, Andesite ×6
44. Layer 44 Smooth Stone ×3, Andesite ×1
45. Layer 45 Smooth Stone ×7, Andesite ×1
46. Layer 46 Smooth Stone ×8, Andesite ×1
47. Layer 47 Andesite ×7, Quartz Block ×4
48. Layer 48 Quartz Block ×4, Andesite ×1, Block of Gold ×1
49. Layer 49 Quartz Block ×2

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