On October 27, 1904, New Yorkers Celebrated a Major Milestone: the Opening of the Subway
On October 27, 1904, New Yorkers dressed in their finest clothing and hosted dinner parties to celebrate the big news of the year. After four years of messy, sometimes controversial construction, a subway had opened in New York City. Officials didn’t know if people would show up for its debut, but more than 100,000 people descended beneath the ground that evening to traverse the system’s 9 miles and 28 stations. The next day, a Sunday, more than 1 million people showed up on the subway’s first full open day.
A New Era of Transportation
It may not seem like a big deal to us now, but the subway was revolutionary—and it still is. A fascinating new exhibit at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn digs into the history and the future of our underground rail system. Titled “The Subway Is…,” the exhibition brings together artifacts, photos, multimedia installations, old advertisements, train models, and more to tell the story of our city’s subway system.
From Horse-Drawn Carriages to Subways
Back in the early 1900s, the only people going underground were miners or, well, corpses. The idea of going underground on an electrified vehicle would have been mind-blowing for New Yorkers of the past, New York Transit Museum Director Concetta Bencivenga explained.
Construction and Controversy
But one thing that hasn’t changed in the last century is that New Yorkers need a way to get around the city quickly. Horse-drawn carriages were the method du jour for a while, but then a major illness killed many horses. Above-ground methods like trolleys and streetcars eventually took over, creating traffic and sometimes chaos in their midst (the Brooklyn Dodgers even got their name as a reference to trolley dodging). When a major blizzard in 1888 snowed in the city and incapacitated trains, city planners started to look for a new way to help people get around. Their conclusion: Go underground.
Impact on the City
From its very beginning, thanks to engineer William Barclay Parsons, New York City’s subways were imbued with meaning, both for wayfinding as well as for beauty. Tulip motifs in light fixtures, for example, were a nod to the city’s Dutch heritage. On the sidewalk level, a rounded roof above a subway staircase indicated an entrance; a square roof indicated an exit.
What’s Changed and What’s Stayed the Same
The exhibit highlights what’s changed over the years—like the system’s rapid growth—as well as what’s stayed the same—like the still-necessary “don’t block the door” ads from 1938. Today, the subway has become ubiquitous. We take it to work, to dinner, to theater, to the club, to friends’ apartments, and we likely don’t think much about the impact of this transit in our lives. But in its early days, the subway was part of a social reform movement that allowed people to increase their quality of life.
Conclusion
From the Interborough Rapid Transit Company’s first 28 stations across nine miles to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s 472 stations across 665 miles, the subway is shorthand for New York City. From the moment that first train rumbled beneath the city’s streets on October 27, 1904, it ushered in a new era for New York City and shaped the city we know today.
FAQs
Q: Where can I see the exhibit?
A: The exhibit is at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn.
Q: How much does it cost to see the exhibit?
A: Tickets cost $10/adult and $5 for kids/seniors.
Q: Are there special events related to the exhibit?
A: Yes, the museum is hosting Nostalgia Rides on vintage Lo-V subway cars from 1917, retracing the original route of New York’s first subway line. Get tickets here for $60/adult and $40/child.
