New York City’s abandoned lore expands for decades, spanning from vacant hospitals and rehabs centers to wiped away subway stations.
They’ve always been a source of joy for history enthusiasts, photographers, and every New Yorker in between.
This time around, we uncover the abandoned 18th Street subway station that once helped transport locals throughout the heart of downtown Manhattan.
History of the 18th Street subway station
This now-spooky subway station dates all the way back to 1900s when the 18th Street location first opened back on October 27, 1904.
It was actually one of NYC’s first 28 subway stations and was originally part of the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Lexington Avenue Line that ran from Great Jones Street to 41st Street.
The station of course sat at East 18th Street and Park Avenue South in Gramercy, built underground without a mezzanine and separate fare controls on each side.
The station’s unique design
At the time of opening, the 18th Street station was gorgeous, featuring two side platforms with four tracks—each about 200 feet long, designed to accommodate five-car trains.
It dazzled with blue/green tile tablets, buff and violet tile bands, a violet faience cornice, and green faience plaques, all manufactured by the American Encaustic Tile Company and designed by Heins & LaFarge—the same architects behind the famed City Hall station.
Plus, the ceiling’s original glass panels let in natural light, something that was rare for stations at the time.
Over time, the station became covered in graffiti, but much of the original tile and terra cotta work remains beneath the paint.
End of an era: 18th street station closing
Throughout the first couple of years when the subway started to gain popularity in the city, ridership soared to new heights…which meant overcrowding was inevitable.
Just 5 years after opening (1909), the New York Public Service Commission proposed to extend the platform so more train cars could transport New Yorkers per train. One year later (1910), the platforms were in fact extended at 18th Street station by another 20-30 feet, allowing an extra train car to fit on the newly renovated platform.
As the years went on and on, more expansions were scheduled to take place at the station, but it became too costly.
18th Street station ended up shuttering on November 8, 1948 as part of a system-wide modernization program. Officials came to the conclusion that its close proximity to the 14th Street–Union Square and 23rd Street stations was too redundant to be worth improving.
How you can still catch a glimpse of the abandoned 18th Street station today 👀
Today, the station’s platforms remain intact but abandoned. However, you can actually catch a glimpse of it if you’re riding the modern subway!
Hop aboard the 4, 5, and 6 trains and look out the right side window to catch a glimpse of the abandoned station covered in graffiti.
There’s no street-level evidence of the station at all, so it’s kind of cool to only be able to view the remnants below the surface.