The history of americas largest and most famous subway system looks at the construction and history of one of the worlds biggest and busiest public transportation systems. The big stories in new yorks history from 1600 to 1899. When it first opened on october 27, 1904, the new york city subway ran. Though you and i are only familiar with a single mta map, dozens of other maps have attempted to make the nyc subway, er, reasonably comprehensive over the years. The objects featured are wonderfully diverseoysters, subway tokens. Subway bibliography a list of books covering general history, rolling stock. For years, the signs in the new york city subway system were a bewildering hodgepodge of lettering styles, sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and messages. Despite its beauty, the city hall subway station was never very busy. To celebrate the centennial of this event, the johns hopkins university press presents a new edition of gene sansones acclaimed book, evolution of new york city subways. The graffiti writers of new york city started by the trains, including subway cars and areas under the tracks.
This book was rather disappointing since a lot of it was just excerpts from other more lengthy and in depth books. New york city subway photography, volume one, 19701976 book. New york underground from the national geographic society. Feb 26, 2020 the seminal new york city sewergator event came on feb. To celebrate the centennial of this event, the johns hopkins university press presents a new edition of gene sansones acclaimed book, evolution of new york. New york city contains roughly 660 miles of subway track connecting 468 subway stationsthe lowest of which is located 180 feet below street level. Includes the history of the various subway lines, pictures of trains through the years and old maps of the system. The seminal new york city sewergator event came on feb.
In this definitive history, clifton hood traces the complex and fascinating story of the new york city subway system, one of the urban engineering marvels of the. Since the opening of the original new york city subway line in 1904, various official and planning agencies have proposed numerous extensions to the subway system. The concept of subways, railroads operating underground, originated in london in 1863 and was applied to new york city by 1904. Its not an exaggeration to say that new yorks subway system is the lifeblood of.
The first subway line in new york city opened on october 27, 1904. For anyone who has taken new york city transit for granted, this book is a must read. In the final year of its use, it only handled about 600 passengers a day, due to the much busier brooklyn bridge station which was close by. How new york city subways signage evolved from a visual mess to a uniform system with helvetica triumphant. New york city history resources city university of new york. Day and black history month, the museum of the city of new york is exhibiting a portrait of dr.
Joseph cunningham and leonard dehart, a history of the new york city subway system. New york city was one of the last major transit systems to adopt an electronic fare system, which was finally set in motion with the first electronic turnstile and sale of metrocards in 1994. One of the better known proposals was the second system, which was part of a plan by the independent subway to construct new subway lines in addition and take over existing subway lines and railroad rightofways. Jan 17, 2020 a comprehensive guide to the subways history, unspoken rules of conduct, and more insider intel. This illegal act became popular among workingclass teenagers, specifically the latinos and african americans in washington heights, the bronx, and. New york city subway history history of the new york city subway lines and routes list of new york city subway lines list of new york city subway services a division a division new york city subway interborough rapid transit company 1 new york city subway service 2 new york city subway service 3 new york city subway service. The new york city subway is a rapid transit system that serves four of the five boroughs of new york city, new york.
The new york city subway has had a long history, beginning as many disjointed systems and eventually merging under city control. The subway made it a place where anything was possible. Contentsshow early steam and elevated railroads see also. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif an. New york city subway resources unofficial site on the new york city subway system. The first was issued in 1953, followed by new versions in 1970, 1980, 1986, and this one in 1995. The book is accompanied by an engaging, illustrated history of the subway system. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the new york city subway like never before. However, it is, as the title says, an encyclopedia, not a narrative book, and, like most encyclopedias. Over the weekend, i put together this riffle list of my favorite 25 book on the subject of new york city history, published over the last one hundred years.
New york city subway punchout book ny transit museum store. King lifes after an assassination attempt in new york in 1958. Published in honor of the new york city subways centennial, the city beneath us will fascinate anyone whos ever been amazed by the gigantic undertaking that is new york city transportation. The book is brief and concise which is a problem in this case because the authors compiled a great deal of information in a small book. The worst subway accident in new yorks history occurred in 1918 when a conductor who was filling in for a striking motorman lost control of his train. When it first opened on october 27, 1904, the new york city subway ran twentytwo miles from city hall to 145th street and lenox avenuethe longest stretch ever built at one time. The museum of the city of new york holds more than 1. A comprehensive guide to the subways history, unspoken rules of conduct, and more insider intel. Heres my 25 favorite books about new york city history.
Mar 04, 2016 old city hall subway station track, 2010 by james maher. Shop for subway books, maps, collectibles, and more. The truth about alligators in the sewers of new york. The big stories in new yorks history from 1900 to 1919. The new york city subway in fascinating facts and figures. American experience constructing new yorks first subway. Though you and i are only familiar with a single mta map, dozens of other maps have attempted to make the nyc subway, er, reasonably comprehensive over. Jackson and a cast of thousandss the encyclopedia of new york city. Helvetica and the new york city subway system the mit press. Oct 01, 20 the most comprehensive history of new york city is probably kenneth t. History of the new york city subway metro wiki fandom. The project is by rosy saliba kehdi and hollie fraser. The history of americas largest and most famous subway system is an interesting book. A history of the new york city subway system joseph cunningham, leonard o.
Produced under the auspices of new york s metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the. Jul 30, 20 23 comments on heres my 25 favorite books about new york city history. Every day, we and a bunch of book ninjas go out and leave some of our favorite books on the new york subway. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif and sans serif letters and. Working with them has become an important part of our campaigns, and our authors love seeing their books all around nyc. The big stories in new yorks history from 1920 to 1939. When it comes to new york citys subway system, you may think you know the letters a,b,c,d,e,f,g,j,l,m,n,q,r,s,w,z and numbers 1 through 7, all too well. Were excited to announce the launch of subway library, a new initiative between the new york public library, brooklyn public library, and queens library, the mta, and transit wireless that provides subway riders in new york city with free access to hundreds of ebooks, excerpts, and short storiesall ready to read on the train as part of the subway library. The amazing history of new york city ny daily news. Originally opened in 1904, this ornate station was the showpiece of the new new york city subway system, with arches and vaulted ceilings, elegant guastavino and colored glass. Jan 11, 2018 the case for the subway, he concluded, is the case for new york city itself.
A history of new york in 101 objects by sam roberts building off a new york times feature that solicited reader input on the tchotchkes that best represent new york, robertss 2014 book is a compact, yet thorough, history of the greatest city in the world. Books on the subway is an excellent team committed to bringing books directly to the audience. This token is the fifth version of the new york city subway token. William manningcorbis the heart of new york city may be times square, but its lifeblood is its subways. William parsons, the projects chief engineer, used a variety of techniques for underwater digging.
Jun 08, 2017 were excited to announce the launch of subway library, a new initiative between the new york public library, brooklyn public library, and queens library, the mta, and transit wireless that provides subway riders in new york city with free access to hundreds of ebooks, excerpts, and short storiesall ready to read on the train. The independent system and city ownership, 1977 frederick a. Its like a public library, but on the new york subway. Published in honor of the new york city subway s centennial, the city beneath us will fascinate anyone whos ever been amazed by the gigantic undertaking that is new york city transportation. In 1932, the citys board of transportation completed construction of the eighth avenue line and created the independent rapid transit railroad ind, the first cityrun subway service.
Produced under the auspices of new yorks metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the rapid transit. Nov 29, 2004 the first subway line in new york city opened on october 27, 1904. This collection of vintage postcards brings you through the tunnels of the subway, onto the platforms of the longgone els, and examines new yorks renowned terminals, especially grand central and penn station. We asked readers to share anecdotes about how the subway. The sinners, saints, victors, victims, lovers, lost souls, magnates, madmen, geniuses and fools who powered the epic rise of americas largest metropolis. May 06, 2018 the graffiti writers of new york city started by the trains, including subway cars and areas under the tracks. Beach pneumatic transit the beginnings of the subway came from various excursion railroads to coney island and elevated railroads in manhattan and brooklyn. For the subways centennial the author supplies a new foreward explaining that now, after a century, we can see more clearly than ever that this rapid transit system is among the twentieth centurys greatest urban achievements.
Featuring such curios as a private subway car built in 1904 for the director of the subway, his work also provides useful insights into such imponderables as why the cars on the f line are longer than those on, say, the 1 and 9 lines. The history and photography of the original, unused city hall subway station, the most beautiful subway station in new york. New york city was one of the last major transit systems to adopt an electronic fare system, which was finally set in motion with the first electronic turnstile and sale of. In this definitive history, clifton hood traces the complex and fascinating story of the new york city subway system, one of the urban engineering marvels of the twentieth century. While london boasts the worlds oldest underground train network opened in 1863 and boston built the first subway in. This is the ny transit museums second major book about the history of the subway following evolution of new york city subways.
The last subway tokens were sold on april 12, 2003. When the city purchased the bmt and irt in 1940, it became the sole owner and operator of all new york city subway and elevated lines. The history of america s largest and most famous subway system looks at the construction and history of one of the world s biggest and busiest public transportation systems. Each car is printed on fullcolor laminated paper and comes with identifying historical. History history of the new york city subway lines and routes list of new york city subway lines list of new york city subway services a division a division new york city subway interborough rapid transit company 1 new york city subway service 2 new york city subway service 3 new york city subway service 4 new york city subway service. Aug 23, 2004 from that initial route through the completion of the ind or independent subway line in the 1940s, the subway grew to cover 722 mileslong enough to reach from new york to chicago. In 1932, the city s board of transportation completed construction of the eighth avenue line and created the independent rapid transit railroad ind, the first city run subway service. Kramer, building the independent subway new york, ny. Its operator is the new york city transit authority nycta, which is controlled by the metropolitan transportation authority mta of new york. Readers share their new york subway stories the new york times. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif and sans serif letters and decorative elements, were supplemented by signs in terracotta and cut stone.
Its not an exaggeration to say that new yorks subway system is the lifeblood of this city. What are the best books on the history of new york. The case for the subway, he concluded, is the case for new york city itself. Mar 11, 2017 one of the most significant needs of a growing civilization is an efficient transportation system, and by the time the burgeoning new york city had reached the latter half of the 19th century, the waterways and narrow streets were no longer sufficient to get people from one part of the city to another. There are new books every day, and theyre there to be taken, read, shared, and most importantly, enjoyed. The humble new york subway car has its fans, as gene sansone demonstrates in his exhaustive survey, evolution of new york city subways. There have been, and will be, other books on the new york city subway.
272 856 477 31 1484 519 230 1195 729 1237 1503 1221 860 441 700 1463 893 50 1246 525 215 195 1088 1387 1047 1220 1290 1344 618 1435 1374 54 859 744 1137 692