New york city subway resources unofficial site on the new york city subway system. If you have any suggestions for web sites that you think might be useful, please email the. The true maybe story excellent hardcover book, also by paul shaw. Its not an exaggeration to say that new york s subway system is the lifeblood of.
Helvetica and the new york city subway system the mit press. Not only were the modern cities of the world filled with horses, they were filled with their excrement, along with all the. Additional history resources for the new york subway mosaics the mostly true story of helvetica and the new york city subway an online article on the subway systems signage by paul shaw, great pictures of subway signage, history, etc. Brennan observes the city and its ordinary people on the streets of the village and times square. The building of the subways and how they transformed new york clifton hood. The big stories in new york s history from 1900 to 1919. So if youre on the subway, and you find a copy of this book, read it, please, and then bring. A parent and two kids takes the subway just for fun one day. Produced under the auspices of new york s metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the. The big stories in new york s history from 1920 to 1939. Boston, new york, and the incredible rivalry that built americas first subway, it quickly becomes apparent that the 19thcentury world was a dirty, slowmoving place. 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.
Its operator is the new york city transit authority nycta, which is controlled by the metropolitan transportation authority mta of new york. Cudahy, under the sidewalks of new york, revised edition lexington, mass. Secrets of the nyc subways explores history and artwork of. The stephen greene press, 1988 joseph cunningham and leonard dehart, a history of the new york city subway system. The new york pass comes with a free nyc guidebook, packed with travel information to help you plan where to go, what to do and how to get there. Subway reads will let people in the book business learn about subway readers. 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. The project is by rosy saliba kehdi and hollie fraser. Beneath the streets graffiti artists explore the art of.
Shes always been obsessed with reading and as a kid would find any opportunity to head to the local library to pick up a copy of the babysitters club. The streets of manhattan were known as dark and dangerous. The new york city subway map as youve never seen it. An illustrated history of new york citys transit cars. It features a stationbystation history and guide of all of the. June 15, 2003 the new york city transit authority now called new york city transit began operating on this date 50 years ago, replacing new york citys board of transportation as the agency in charge of all subway and elevated lines and cityowned bus and trolley lines. The worst subway accident in new york s history occurred in 1918 when a conductor who was filling in for a striking motorman lost control of his train. The absolute beginners guide to the new york subway. When a single new subway station is delayed for several years, and an entirely new line is delayed for several lifetimes, it may seem like a pretty pointless exercise to imagine a new york city. New york city during the 19701980s was not the same city we know today. Opened in 1904, the new york city subway is one of the worlds oldest public transit systems, one of the mostused, and the one with the most stations.
The race underground covers the history of the first subways in america which centers around boston and new york. Download your free new york guidebook official new york. The idiots guide to the subway new york city forum. Nov 29, 2004 back then, i thought the book was an incredible tribute to the rolling stock of the new york city subway system. The first subway line in new york city opened on october 27, 1904. Sep 25, 2017 the new york city subway, explained new york citys iconic subway signs celebrated in a new, sitespecific exhibit busmounted cameras on 14th street will crack down on scofflaw drivers. The history of americas largest and most famous subway system is an interesting book. Seeing so many visitors struggle with the system, i decided to write a guide to set them at ease. 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. Jul 23, 2016 author and transit expert oscar israelowitz knows a thing or two about the new york city transit system, and in his latest book, secrets of the new york city subways, he delves deep into 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. 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. The subway system in the 1970s80s history of new york city. While london boasts the worlds oldest underground train network opened in 1863 and boston built the first subway in the united states in 1897, the new york city subway soon became the largest. An illustrated history of new york citys transit cars, 18672004. A selection of free resources pertaining to the history of new york city, including reference resources about the city, links to digital exhibitions and libraries, numerous websites, and information about the city and each of the five boroughs. The new york city subway is a rapid transit system that serves four of the five boroughs of new york city, new york.
Apr 15, 2016 several times each year, the new york transit museum takes a lucky group of people on a tour of a shuttered subway station in lower manhattan. There are new books every day, and theyre there to be taken, read, shared, and most importantly, enjoyed. There are some color photos but new york city subway cars is the clear winner in that category. The book includes 15 easytoassemble punchout train cars that are modeled after the historic old trains from the new york transit museum archives.
About for books new york subways an illustrated history of. Mcclellan spoke, saying, now i, as mayor, in the name of the. Mar 06, 2017 we left them throughout new yorks 23rd street c and e line stations on november 10, 2016. New york city subway guidebook with maps, stations, yards, tracks and other useful and historical information. The subway was known as filthy, noisy, dangerous, and tagged with graffiti. Opened in 1904, the city hall stop on the 6 train has. The new york city subway system celebrates its 100th anniversary on october 27, 2004, but you can bring the romance of the old subway alive today with the subway punchout book. To enter you have to swipe your metrocard through a reader and then wait for the display to say, go.
Jun 08, 2017 inside those 10 cars, the seats resemble books on a shelf. Six hundred guests assembled inside flagbedecked city hall listened to speeches extolling the brandnew subway, new yorks first. 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 e books, excerpts, and short storiesall ready to read on the train as part of the subway library. Transportation expert brian cudahy recounts the history of the new york subway systems in a book that is full of detail, historical anecdote, and the wonders of twentieth century technology. Originating in the new york city subway and spreading beyond it, graffiti is among the most common forms of vandalism committed today. August 14, 2003 largest power failure in us history hits new york.
Produced under the auspices of new york s metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the rapid transit. Oct 01, 2002 great building feats shows how and why the worlds greatest structures were created, and how engineering, geographical, and technical challenges were overcome during construction. The new york transit museum offers tours to its members, although its possible to get a gratis peek. New york city was on the brink of bankruptcy in the 1970s. Theres something special about someone who aims to inspire new yorkers as part of their every day.
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 ninthbusiest rapid transit rail system in the world. A rivalry of two brothers growing up at the height of the gilded age would bring for the luminaries in public policy, urban revitalization and science to develop an electric based mass transit system to improve life in both cities. This was a significant update and included four new pages showing the alignment of the second avenue subway. The system typically operates 247 service every day of the year, barring emergencies and disasters, though some routes may operate only parttime. On this day, the new york city subway system has now celebrated 100 years of service to the city. Railroad book a history of the new york subway system 3. Subway secrets from the new york transit museum bk stories. New york city transit authority objects book hypebeast. New york city history resources city university of new york. 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. May 04, 2015 the first underground line was a resounding success. The building of the subways and how they transformed.
A century by john stern thursday, october 27, 1904 was a gala day in the city of new york. Every day, we and a bunch of book ninjas go out and leave some of our favorite books on the new york subway. New york subway system can be a bit intimidating at first, and the locals do rush around so you might feel the pressure of someone right behind you in line getting ever more impatient. History of new york subway book global history blog. Not only were the modern cities of the world filled with horses, they were filled with their excrement. Produced under the auspices of new york s metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the rapid transit systems design. It was designed by master engineer john stephenson, who customized many of the new york and harlems. Easily the cheapest and most convenient form of transportation in nyc, the new york subway system is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. 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. I also thought it would be a very long time before such a volume could be surpassed in any way. What many native new yorkers take for granted can be very confusing and unintuitive to outsiders.
New york city contains roughly 660 miles of subway track connecting 468 subway stationsthe lowest of which is located 180 feet below street level. For years, the signs in the new york city subway system were a bewildering hodgepodge of lettering styles, sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and messages. The term also refers only to the trains run by the new york city transit authority it does not include suburban railroads, or the port authoritys air train to the. The new york rapid transit railway extensions building the new rapid transit system of new york city. The book covers every remarkable moment, from the technical obstacles and corruption that impeded plans for an. The new york city subway system only added to the citys darkness. Jul 31, 2015 new york citys subway is one of the oldest public transportation systems in the world. This book is a necessary addition to any subway fans collection. From that initial route through the completion of the ind or independent subway line in the 1940s, the subway grew to cover 722 miles. Depictions of trains, subway stations and the nyc skyline tell the story of how graphic designer massimo vignelli created a new subway map in 1972. 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. 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. The new york public library is bringing free books to the subway. The sons of liberty destroyed british authority in new york city, and the stamp act congress of representatives from throughout the thirteen colonies met in the city in 1765 to organize resistance to british policies.
A trip through new york citys unbuilt subway system joseph b. A comprehensive guide to the subway s history, unspoken rules of conduct, and more insider intel. Subway by christoph niemann meet your next favorite book. The amazing history of new york city ny daily news. The mostly true story of helvetica and the new york city subway an online article on the subway systems signage by paul shaw, great pictures of subway signage, history, etc. The sinners, saints, victors, victims, lovers, lost souls, magnates, madmen, geniuses and fools who powered the epic rise of americas largest metropolis. Modern graffiti began in philadelphia, in the 1960s.
Graffiti in new york city has had a substantial role in the rise of property crimes at the local, national, and international scale. Crime was on the rise, and subway ridership had dropped to its lowest level since 1918. The nyc subway history facts and secrets thrillist. White to patti smith, these are some of the best books written about new york city. In 2004 the centennial year for the original irt subway we have new york subways. Produced under the auspices of new yorks metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the rapid transit systems design and engineering history offers an extensive array of photographs, engineering plans, and technical data for nearly every. Interborough rapid transit, 1904 with an introduction by brian j. Its construction and equipment 1904 the construction of the irt is well documented in this 1904 commemorative book honoring the opening of new york s first subway. The biggest changes were the inclusion of 7 line extension and the new track plant configuration at 74th and bway on the flushing line. Heres my 25 favorite books about new york city history. It includes construction diagrams, photographs, and a full accounting of the infrastructure of the irt subway. The new york subway metro is the most customary means of transport amongst new yorkers. Beginning today, the subway library will offer commuters six weeks of free downloadable books from the citys public libraries. Trustpilot plan your sightseeing with a comprehensive guidebook, complete with attraction information, travel tips, city map, subway map, contact information and more.
Modified nyc subway map shows accessible stations curbed ny. The written history of new york city began with the first european explorer the italian giovanni da verrazzano in 1524. 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. Believe it or not, this is completely possible when you use the nyc subway. Secrets of the nyc subways explores history and artwork. The new york city subway is a rapid transit system owned by the city of new york and leased to the new york city transit authority, a subsidiary agency of the staterun metropolitan transportation authority mta. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif and sans serif letters and. 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.
This massive subway expansion would completely transform nyc. Metrocard new york subway pass public transportation in nyc. They ride all around new york and try to figure out where they are going. While the word subway suggests underground trains only, new yorkers call all municipal rapid transit trains the subway, even though some of them run above ground.
Images from todays date in history world around new york city. A 42page introduction gives the reader a brief history of the system, a primer on subway. The book is accompanied by an engaging, illustrated history of the subway system. But as it is in no other city on earth, the subway of new york is intimately woven into the fabric and identity of the city itself.
The new york subway runs 24 hours a day, 7 days per week, 365 days a year. The new york subway system is not the simplest in the world. The history, curiosities, and secrets of the new york city transit system by john e. New york city subway an overview this is a wikipedia book, a collection of wikipedia articles that can be easily saved, imported by an external electronic rendering service, and ordered as a printed book.
How new york city subways signage evolved from a visual mess to a uniform system with helvetica triumphant. By fred lavis, consulting engineer, engineering news, 1914 these articles were originally published in engineering news, 1914, and reprinted in book form in 1915 under the title building the new rapid transit system of new york city. 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. The independent system and city ownership, 1977 frederick a. Includes the history of the various subway lines, pictures of trains through the years and old maps of the system. When it first opened on october 27, 1904, the new york city subway ran. Bram in 1980, states that the price of a single slice of of untopped pizza matched, with uncanny precision, the cost of a new york city subway token. Watch emma watson leave books around the new york city subway. Secrets of the new york city subways is a synthesis of both original books and contains an enormous amount of new information.
Nov 17, 2011 it eventually closed because longer chains of subway cars couldnt fit onto its looping track. The big stories in new york s history from 1600 to 1899. Kramer, building the independent subway new york, ny. Morris is both a vivid history of this great transportation system and an exploration of its impact on the city and popular culture. I think it will kind of confused little kids if they are reading. A rowhouse thats not really a house, a secret subway train whose only passenger was moneyin our latest investigation into brooklyns secrets, we go subterranean and head to the new york. The great new york subway map book moma design store. 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. Its like a public library, but on the new york subway. If youre lucky, you might even catch a ride on the special subway library train that has been decorated to look like the famous and stunning rose main reading room. Hollie started the book sharing movement back in london in 2012, when she founded books on the underground. The subway is an easy and safe way to get anywhere in new york city. Only in new york, where the subway and thin, floppy pizza slices are iconic symbols of the city, could someone bake up the pizza principle. The longwinded lady by maeve brennan one of my favorite new york books is the longwinded lady, a collection of short essays written mostly in the 1960s by maeve brennan for the new yorker magazines talk of the town.
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