Transit Museum

The New York Transit Museum is located in an unused subway station and is the largest museum of its kind in the United States

1960s MTA Bus in the New York Transit Museum
1960s MTA Bus in the New York Transit Museum cc licensed photo by plattypus_of_new_york

Appropriately located in the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Brooklyn Heights, the New York Transit Museum run by the Metropolitan Transit Authority is home to a collection of antique rail cars, vintage buses, subway memorabilia and exhibits examining all aspects of public transportation.

Originally opened as a temporary exhibit in 1976, the Metropolitan Transit Authority kept the museum open after the conclusion of the bicentennial celebrations in response to public demand. Over the years, the Transit Museum has grown in popularity and scope, becoming the largest museum in the United States devoted to public transportation.

Unlike traditional museums, the Transit Museum has a child friendly, hands-on policy. Kids of all ages will enjoy "driving" the buses and trains and the interactive educational exhibits. Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, the museum offers children's programs free with admission and hosts a drop-in group for children aged 2-5 called "Transit Tots" every Friday morning. Parents visiting with young children should note that the staircase leading down to the mezzanine level is not stroller friendly.

The Transit Museum offers various tours and talks for adults with audio tour podcasts available on iTunes. Several times a year, "Nostalgia Train" excursions are offered to various destinations aboard their vintage rail cars. Occasionally, the Transit Museum offers public tours of the beautiful Brooklyn City Hall station and other decommissioned stations. A full calendar of events and registration details are available on the Transit Museum website.



Facts For Your Visit

Fee: Yes, there is a small entry fee. Visit the official website to purchase tickets.

Transit Museum Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays

  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: Closed
  • Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Thursday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Friday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Saturday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM

Address: 99 Schermerhorn St, Brooklyn, NY 11201, USA

Phone: (718) 694-1600

Official Website: Transit Museum

Transit Museum Reviews

Rated 4.7 out of 5 Star Rating

5 Star Rating A wonderful museum in an old subway station. Lots of very interesting old carriages as well as multiple timelines showing the evolution of public transport in NY over the past 200 years. Was only $10 USD for adult tickets. Spent about 75 minutes here. Would recommend early on a weekday if possible as Sunday had lots of kids with noisy parents 😂
Darren Harrison - a month ago

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5 Star Rating The New York Transit Museum is a cleverly designed and beautifully curated museum. Set in an old subway station, you start your journey in a small cramped hallway dedicated to the history of how the subway was constructed. You can begin to imagine how cramped and strenuous the conditions the men who built the subway system were under. The museum does a great job to honor the workers and tell their stories. It is unbelievable what they accomplished. Next the museum opens up into a grand large room (that looks just like your subway stop) dedicated to the history, art, people, technology, and engineering of the New York Transportation Authority. It celebrates all of the wins of the last century; showcases art, advertisements, and psas that have graced past subway cars; displays vintage turnstiles, ticket machines, buses, and more… I especially loved the room dedicated to the metro card, may she rest in peace. Take a walk downstairs to the train platform to see the highlight of the museum, the collection of vintage train cars. You can explore train cars from the early 1900s all the way to the present day. Climb aboard, take a seat, giggle at the vintage advertisements. It is a true journey through time! I highly recommend spending 2+ hours here to have enough time to soak everything in. What a beautiful love letter to New York! Best public transportation in the country :)
Molly Myers - 3 months ago

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5 Star Rating Lovely visit to the New York Transit Museum (Downtown Brooklyn) on a Saturday morning in the winter. $10 Adults/$5 Children/Seniors. Although street parking can be tough, it is manageable , especially on weekends in the Cobble Hill and Manhattan Bridge areas. Entrance via the "subway" steps on Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street. Once down there, you can buy tickets at the ticketbooth although they recommend ticket purchase in advance online. You then navigate through the museum which includes lots of interesting and fun facts about New York Subway System...its origin, design, construction, and updates and maintenance over the last 120+ years. There are lots of interesting exhibits such as the evolution of the subway payment methods and turnstiles. A lovely exhibit pays tribute to the Metrocard and how it reolutionized the payment process. There are different machines on display as well as all of the "Special Edition" Metrocards throughout the years. Downstairs, on the tracks, there various train cars dating back 100+ years. You can see how each update fit the purpose of their time...given technological limitations of course. It was interesting reading a bit about each one. Finally, there is the Gift Shop with all kinds of interesting gift options...maps, magnets, toys, shirts, posters and other collectibles. Overall, I had a great time at the New York Transit Museum. Despite being a native New Yorker who has used its public transportation system since the 90's...it was very interesting learning all about it. I gained a new appreciation not of the system itself...but the employees who work hard to keep the system up and running. It was busy but not overcrowded....likely more crowds when the temperature warms up. I took about two (2) hours and was able to read most of the exhibits...I would allow around three (3) hours if you want to read everything. If you are ONLY interested in seeing the displays without reading...you can likely get through it in an hour. All staff throughout the museum were very friendly and helpful.
Jemlnlx - 2 months ago

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5 Star Rating One of the best subway museum in the world. The museum is transformed from an old station, and you can visit lots of old train stocks in the old platforms. It really gives you a time-travel feeling in the museum, particularly with all the old trains and setting.
Martin C - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Absolutely fantastic! This museum is a nostalgic journey through NYC's transit history. Seeing the collection of vintage subway cars and buses on the lower level is the highlight—you can walk right through them! It’s a beautifully preserved piece of New York’s backbone. Strongly recommend for anyone interested in urban history or cool engineering. Pro Tip: Go on a weekday morning to avoid the crowds and have more time to explore the old train interiors!
Antonio - 6 months ago

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Directions

Subway Line Nearest Station Walking Time
2, 3, 4 or 5Borough Hall5 minutes
A, C, F or RJay Street (MetroTech)5 minutes

How to get to Transit Museum by Subway

Take the 2, 3, 4 or 5 train to Borough Hall, head southeast along the tree lined pathway past the east side of the courthouse, turn left on Joralemon Street then cross the road going right (south) on Boerum Place to Schermerhorn Street or the A, C, F or R train to Jay Street (MetroTech), head south on Jay Street, continue onto Smith Street, turn right onto Schermerhorn Street, continue to Boerum Place.

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