New York, beneath the surface
The original 28 NYC subway stations
Follow the first subway from City Hall to 145th Street: the complete opening-day station list, its route through Manhattan, and details to look for.
New York’s first subway opened on October 27, 1904. The Interborough Rapid Transit Company’s route linked City Hall with 145th Street through 28 stations over 9.1 miles. The New York Transit Museum’s Subway Day guide documents the opening and its stations.
Where the first route went
From City Hall, the subway ran north to Grand Central, turned west across 42nd Street to Times Square, and continued north along Broadway. The original route therefore does not correspond to one modern numbered service. Grand Central and Times Square in this list refer to the original station identities, now associated with the shuttle.
Choose “Original 28” in the map’s exploration panel to follow the opening-day tour. The wider year-end snapshot includes other infrastructure, so its stop count is larger than 28.
The 28 stations, south to north
These are recognizable station labels, rather than a transcription of every opening-day sign. The list includes stations that have since closed.
- City Hall
- Brooklyn Bridge
- Worth Street
- Canal Street
- Spring Street
- Bleecker Street
- Astor Place
- 14th Street–Union Square
- 18th Street
- 23rd Street
- 28th Street
- 33rd Street
- Grand Central
- Times Square
- 50th Street
- 59th Street–Columbus Circle
- 66th Street
- 72nd Street
- 79th Street
- 86th Street
- 91st Street
- 96th Street
- 103rd Street
- 110th Street
- 116th Street
- 125th Street
- 137th Street
- 145th Street
Details to look for
City Hall: A showpiece beneath City Hall
Curved vaults and skylights made this terminal a showcase for the new subway. Its architecture was designed to make an underground journey feel welcoming.
Bleecker Street: A name in blue
Bleecker Street’s distinctive blue faience name tablets use oval frames, with vines and swags worked into the surrounding decoration.
Astor Place: Why the beavers?
The beaver plaques refer to John Jacob Astor’s fur-trading fortune. Station decoration connected the new subway to the neighborhood above it.
14th Street–Union Square: Ride through 1905
A film preserved by the Library of Congress follows a train from 14th Street to 42nd Street in 1905. Watch the early subway in motion, one year after its opening.
33rd Street: An eagle with a local connection
The eagle plaques recall the 71st Regiment Armory that stood at Park Avenue and 33rd Street.
Grand Central: The subway turned west here
The original route crossed 42nd Street from Grand Central to Times Square before continuing north along Broadway. Today’s route colors do not describe that opening-day service.
59th Street–Columbus Circle: A ship in the tiles
The station’s ceramic ship plaques depict Columbus’s Santa Maria, surrounded by rope and floral motifs.
116th Street: The university underground
Blue and cream plaques carry Columbia University’s seal. The decorative scheme alternates the seal with shields bearing the number 116.
145th Street: The opening-day terminus
On October 27, 1904, the new subway reached 145th Street. Its 28 stations connected City Hall with upper Manhattan over a 9.1-mile route.
See the early subway in motion
The Library of Congress film from 14th Street to 42nd Street records a ride in 1905. It is a view of the early operating subway, not footage from opening day.
Continue through time
Read about the subway’s connection to Brooklyn in 1908, browse all 19 historical snapshots, or review how the map is reconstructed.