Our century-old subway system (and the world’s largest!) is a quintessential part of NYC, and members of the New York Transit Museum will get exclusive access to explore it in all of its glory.
Returning to the museum are tours of the old City Hall subway station, the first-ever station of the New York City subway. Opened in 1904, it was intended to be the pièce de résistance of the entire transit system.
The tour begins above ground to discuss Alfred Beach’s Pneumatic Tube, before traveling deep underground to uncover all the secrets and fascinating history of our transit system and beyond. You’ll be able to explore spaces even the most seasoned commuter might not know about!
Though trains haven’t stopped at City Hall for years, the track remains active for a turnaround on the 6 line.
As you take a look around, you’ll be absolutely mesmerized by the beautiful architecture, with similarities of a cathedral design peeking through.
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From vaulted ceilings, to brass chandeliers, there’s no station that’s quite as aesthetically pleasing as this one. It’s located just beneath the Municipal Building, in what used to be the epicenter of the city at that time.
You might be wondering why a perfectly good subway station isn’t in use anymore? As the years have passed and the trains have gotten bigger, the platform itself simply can’t accommodate the larger trains and the distance of the gap became unsafe for passengers entering and exiting.
As outlined on the New York Transit Museum website, tour registration is a two-step process:
- Become a member
- Provide a government-issued ID and sign a Visitor Release form within 48 hours of your tour purchase
Note: Tickets have been sold out for 2023. Additional tickets will be available come early 2024.
Learn more on the New York Transit Museum website here.