Located in an original subway station called Court Street, the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn spent life as part of an intended connection to Manhattan for ten years from 1936 to 1946 until it was closed due to lack of use and funds to complete the tunnel. It was then used as a film set for a number of movies before opening as an exhibit in July 1976 as part of the US Bicentennial celebrations. The exhibit was then due to be closed, but the public expressed unhappiness at this, so it remained open and became the New York Transit Museum we see today.
The New York Transit Museum is dedicated to detailing the history of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority and has a number of wonderful interactive exhibits. One of the highlights is the vintage cars. On the lower levels, two subway tracks house train cars from every decade since 1900, open so you can step on and explore them. There is also a collection of vintage buses that you can climb aboard; kids can have hours of fun pretending to be bus drivers. Other exhibits you can find here are vintage signage and a whole array of transport memorabilia in addition to a small screening room that often displays posters and videos for educational purposes.
The New York Transit Museum is located in a decommissioned subway station at 99 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, and open Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 4 pm and weekends from 11 am to 5 pm. The museum occasionally closes for public holidays. Rates are as follows:
· Adult – $10
· Children (ages 2 – 17) – $5
· Senior (62+) – $5; free on Wednesdays
· Visitors with disabilities (ID needed) – $5
· Museum members – Free
Like with most New York museums, the middle of the day tends to get very busy, so it is best to plan your visit when the museum opens. The museum is accessible by over 20 subway and bus lines. The lines you take will depend on where you are coming from, but subway lines include 2, 3, 4, 5, A, B, C, D, G, N, R, and W.
After visiting the museum, there are plenty of eateries nearby to grab some lunch or dinner.
· Shake Shack, 409 Fulton Street: a chain with gourmet twists on fast-food classics;
· New Apollo Diner, 155 Livingston Street: offers a large dinner menu with all-day breakfasts and classic mains;
· two8two Bar and Burger, 282 Atlantic Ave: a basic restaurant offering burgers and hot dogs;
· My Little Pizzeria, 114 Court Street: a simple pizzeria with a variety of slice and whole pie options.
The New York Transit Museum offers a fantastic hands-on experience for all the family, combining both fun and education.
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