Curated by Joseph A. Gornail & Steven D. Garcia of Fine Print New York • 315 Madison Avenue • Email Us • 212.619.5446

History of NYC Subway in Pictures (1870 - 1986)

The New York City Subway is a rapid transit system owned by the government of New York City and leased to the New York City Transit Authority, an affiliate agency of the state-run Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA).

It is one of the world’s oldest public transit systems, one of the most-used, and the one with the most stations – a total of 472 in operation throughout the boroughs of Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx.

The system has operated 24/7 service every day of the year throughout most of its history, barring emergencies and disasters. By annual ridership, the New York City Subway is the busiest rapid transit system in both the Western Hemisphere and the Western world, as well as the seventh-busiest rapid transit rail system in the world.

Photograph of an elevated railroad station constructed by the Manhattan Railway Company.

1870: Elevated Railroad Station

Photograph of an elevated railroad station constructed by the Manhattan Railway Company.

View looking southwest from the intersection of 33rd Street and Broadway.  The Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway is shown on Sixth Avenue where it crosses Broadway.

1870: Elevated Station on a Busy Street

View looking southwest from the intersection of 33rd Street and Broadway. The Sixth Avenue Elevated Railway is shown on Sixth Avenue where it crosses Broadway.

A view looking down elevated railroad tracks. A train is approaching around the curve.

1880: New York Elevated Railway

A view looking down elevated railroad tracks. A train is approaching around the curve.

Located at the intersecton of Bowery and Division Street, Chatham Square was an express station on the IRT Third Avenue Line. It had two levels.

1900: Elevated Railroad at Chatham Square

Located at the intersecton of Bowery and Division Street, Chatham Square was an express station on the IRT Third Avenue Line. It had two levels.

Crowds of shoppers fill the busy streets north of 14th Street in the shade of the elevated train which once ran along 6th Avenue.

1900: Elevated Tracks on Sixth Avenue North of 14th Street

Crowds of shoppers fill the busy streets north of 14th Street in the shade of the elevated train which once ran along 6th Avenue.

Photograph of a busy scene on the Bowery as pedestrians make their way across the street and under the elevated overpass.

1901: Under the Elevated Railroad at the Bowery

Photograph of a busy scene on the Bowery as pedestrians make their way across the street and under the elevated overpass.

Construction underway at the City Hall Loop. In 1904, the first subway train departed from City Hall station with Mayor McClellan at the controls.

1904: City Hall Subway Station Under Construction

Construction underway at the City Hall Loop. In 1904, the first subway train departed from City Hall station with Mayor McClellan at the controls.

Chatham Square was an express station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. Its lower level served trains of the IRT Second and Third Avenue Lines.

1905: Elevated (L) Station at Chatham Square

Chatham Square was an express station on the demolished IRT Third Avenue Line. Its lower level served trains of the IRT Second and Third Avenue Lines.

Horses and carriages move along the underpass of the elevated train tracks following 8th Avenue.

1906: Elevated Railroad at 8th Avenue

Horses and carriages move along the underpass of the elevated train tracks following 8th Avenue.

Young folk selling gum at the exit from the downtown side of the Lexington Avenue subway station

1910: Selling Chewing Gum Near a Subway Station

Young folk selling gum at the exit from the downtown side of the Lexington Avenue subway station

Aerial photograph of the Herald Square elevated railroad and Sixth Avenue near 34th Street.

1910: Elevated Railroad Through Herald Square

Aerial photograph of the Herald Square elevated railroad and Sixth Avenue near 34th Street.

Aerial photograph of Manhattan looking north over Washington and Greenwich Streets with Trinity Place on the right.

1940: Aerial View of Elevated Railroad

Aerial photograph of Manhattan looking north over Washington and Greenwich Streets with Trinity Place on the right.

Photograph of midtown commuters waiting at a platform for the Third Avenue elevated train.

1942: Waiting for an Elevated Train

Photograph of midtown commuters waiting at a platform for the Third Avenue elevated train.

Photograph shows an elevated perspective of Cooper Union facing north and flanked along its east wall by the Third Avenue elevated railroad.

1952: Third Avenue Elevated Train at Cooper Union

Photograph shows an elevated perspective of Cooper Union facing north and flanked along its east wall by the Third Avenue elevated railroad.

Photograph shows an elevated perspective of Cooper Union facing north and flanked along its east wall by the Third Avenue elevated railroad.

1952: Third Avenue Elevated Train at Cooper Union

Photograph shows an elevated perspective of Cooper Union facing north and flanked along its east wall by the Third Avenue elevated railroad.

Photograph of people hanging around the subway entrance of the 8th Avenue Line in midtown Manhattan.

1957: 8th Avenue Subway Station Entrance

Photograph of people hanging around the subway entrance of the 8th Avenue Line in midtown Manhattan.

Photograph of passengers waiting in line to buy tokens at a subway station booth.

1974: Subway Token Booth

Photograph of passengers waiting in line to buy tokens at a subway station booth.

The first subway token change occurred in 1970 when the fare was raised to 30 cents and 50 million tokens were minted.

1974: Subway Tokens

The first subway token change occurred in 1970 when the fare was raised to 30 cents and 50 million tokens were minted.

Color photograph of the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad tracks on a clear day.

1978: Third Avenue Elevated

Color photograph of the Third Avenue Elevated Railroad tracks on a clear day.

Photograph of the tile-clad control room at City Hall Subway Station in downtown Manhattan.

1986: City Hall Subway Station Control Room

Photograph of the tile-clad control room at City Hall Subway Station in downtown Manhattan.


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History of NYC - 10,000+ Years Ago

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Frequently Asked Questions

What Is History101.nyc?

Welcome to the History of New York City - A Unique Online Gallery of NYC's Origins, Curated and Digitally Restored by Fine Print New York.

We're opening our archives to present this Collection of Vintage Photos, Historical Images and Rare Lithographs. This Exclusive Series of High Quality Art Prints are only Available for Purchase Exclusively on this Site.

Who started History101.nyc?

Joseph Gornail, printer/photographer and founder of Fine Print New York. Joseph grew up in SoHo, Manhattan and is part of a long lineage of NYC printers, learning the family trade from his grandfather. While working for Dolo Records/Stretch Armstrong in 1996, Joseph founded All City Marketing & Printing, and in 1999 Co-Founded the legendary street wear company "Orchard Street " with lifelong friends Benjamin Holloway and Greig Bennett. Fine Print NYC was established in 2004 with a Nike project being the launchpad for a commercial printing company that has not only survived, but thrived in the digital age.

Steven Garcia, designer/illustrator and creative director of Fine Print New York. Born and raised in Bushwick, Brooklyn. Steven attended Fashion Industries High School and F.I.T. before building a successful career at Saatchi & Saatchi for as a professional retoucher and storyboard artist in 1995. Steven started ShinyDesign in 1998 and partnered with Fine Print in 2004 as the exclusive design firm for the company. Steven has independently worked on major advertising campaigns for many brands over the years, such as Snapple, The Waldorf Astoria and Sony to name a few.

Together, Joseph & Steven are responsible for the curation and direction of the History101.nyc project, which has been under development since 2006. They have a long history of collaborating together, going back as far as 2001 when Joseph was gallery manager and Steven was a curator at The New York City Urban Experience, an art gallery & museum that was located at 85 South Street and owned by Mike Saes of the Nike Bridge Runners and True Yorkers.

What Time Periods, Eras, Decades of NYC History are available?

We cover a great portion of the city's history, ranging from its earliest days as New Amsterdam to the late 1980s. Artists are currently working on photos from the 90s to present day,

Here's a current list of what is covered:

Dutch Era: When New York Was New Amsterdam

NYC in the 1600s

Georgian Era

NYC in the 1700s • NYC from 1800 to 1850

Victorian Era

NYC in the 1850s • NYC in the 1860s • NYC in the 1870s • NYC in the 1880s

Progressive Era

NYC in the 1890s • NYC from 1900 to 1905 • 1905 to 1910 • 1910 to 1915 • 

World War 1

NYC from 1915 to 1920

Art Deco

NYC from 1920 to 1925 • NYC from 1925 to 1930

Depression Era

NYC from 1930 to 1935 • NYC from 1935 to 1940

World War 2

NYC from 1940 to 1945

MidCentury Modern Era

NYC from 1945 to 1950 • 1950 to 1955 • 1955 to 1960 • 1960 to 1965 • 1965 to 1970

Energy Crisis

NYC from 1970 to 1975 • 1975 to 1980

Reagan Era

NYC from 1980 to 1985 • 1985 to 1990
How many historical Images are on this site?

There are currently 714 photos, lithographs, illustrations and maps on this site. Each one has been digitally restored and cleaned up by hand, which makes this collection truly unique.

Can I License Any of These Images?

Digital licenses are available for educational institutions (schools, universities, non-profit organizations). Please contact legal@fineprintnyc.com to discuss conditions for licensing.

NOTE: Any form of commercialization or redistribution of these images, either as tangible goods or third party licenses, is expressly forbidden.

Can I purchase prints of the historical images available on the site?

History101.nyc is an ad-free and non-profit learning resource. We do not sell prints of these images. All operational costs are covered by Fine Print NYC

Do you accept admissions to this collection?

Absolutely! Feel free to send us an email with a preview of the image and we will let you know if it's a good fit for the archives.

How do you handle feedback or corrections regarding the historical context of images?

We welcome any feedback that you may have. If it proves to be historically accurate the changes will be reflected on the site shortly after our correspondence.

Do you collaborate with other historical societies or archives?

We have collaborated with NYC's Municipal Archives, The Tenemant Museum, Bronx Historical Society and a number of prominent NYC photographers to produce a series of limited edition postcards which free of charge, but only available via street distribution, primarily in Manhattan.

Do you also provide image restoration as a service for personal photos?

Yes, we can repair, restore and cleanup your old family photos, slides and negatives. You can either send us the digital files or the original photos to be professionally scanned.

Can you repair any type of image damage?

We can restore just about any level of damage or signs of aging, within reason. As long as most of the photo is intact we cn work with it. The one flaw we cannot fix is source material that is blurry. A poorly take photo can only be improved so much.

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