Abandoned stations, decaying rooftops, and out-of-service tracks—New York’s past isn’t just in museums, it’s buried beneath our feet.
They’re irresistible to history lovers, artists, and anyone intrigued by the city’s hidden past.
While we recently uncovered the eerie remnants of the 18th Street subway station, today we’re stepping even further back in time—to the jewel-like Old City Hall station, once the crown of the NYC transit system and now one of the city’s most stunning underground secrets.
History of the Old City Hall subway station
The Old City Hall station is actually quite a significant piece of NYC’s subway transit history. It was the original southern terminal of the city’s first subway line and it became the first subway station to open in New York City.
It was part of the first subway line, the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT), which opened on October 27, 1904, and the line originally ran from City Hall to 145th Street.
Subway planning in New York City dates back to the 1860s, but it wasn’t until the Rapid Transit Act passed in 1894—and a wave of legal and engineering hurdles were cleared by the late 1890s—that the project truly gained momentum. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) was established to build and run the system, with the station designs entrusted to the architectural firm Heins & LaFarge.
Construction of the City Hall station in particular began on March 24, 1900, marked by a formal groundbreaking ceremony officiated by Mayor Robert Van Wyck.
It then opened four years later as the very first station in 1904, and was met with thousands of New Yorkers riding through it, and debut celebrations like bell ringing and whistle blowing.
The station’s unique design
If New York City was going to open its very first subway station, it had to be a statement— one meant to rival the grandeur of European capitals.
Old City Hall was built with purpose, and featured a single curved platform adorned with Guastavino tilework, skylights, colored glass, and brass chandeliers. A nod to European style, the station was meant to serve as an architectural showpiece through it Romanesque Revival style that completely differed from what the rest of the city’s were going to be.
Master artisan Rafael Guastavino’s signature tile vaulting was evident, and rounded arches and vaulted ceilings set it apart from anything NYC has ever seen.
Even green tile arches, red Roman brick in a herringbone pattern, and blue glass skylights with natural light gave such attention to detail that New Yorkers and beyond could celebrate.
End of an era: Old City Hall station closing
After 41 years in operation, the Old City Hall subway station officially closed on December 31, 1945.
The closure of the station came for a myriad of reasons, the main one being its redundancy to the nearby Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall station, only 600 feet away.
New Yorkers began to favor that station in the 1930s and 1940s due to its accessibility to both local and express services, easier transfers, and direct access to streetcars and other subway lines.
The station’s infrastructure was also partly to blame for its eventual shuttering, specifically its sharply curved platform, which could not safely accommodate ten-car trains. This created hazardous gaps between the train doors and the platform edge, posing a danger to riders.
How you can see Old City Hall station today 👀
New Yorkers can still access Old City Hall subway station today, but only through exclusive guided tours offered by the New York Transit Museum.
These tours are available to museum members and go on sale just three times a year, with tickets costing $50 per person and selling out within minutes due to high demand.
To secure a spot, you must first become a Transit Museum member, then act quickly when tickets are released—typically in early August, January, and one other time each year.
The tour lasts about 90 minutes, beginning above ground with a history of early subway innovations before heading underground to explore the station’s elegant chandeliers, vaulted tile ceilings, and signature architectural details.
Tickets for the next session of tours go on sale this August, and you can stay updated on the sale by signing up for the museum’s newsletter.
You can learn more about these coveted walking tour by visiting the New York Transit Museum’s website.