Did you know New York City’s subway made its grand debut on October 27, 1904 — forever changing the way the city moved? The very first line of the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) ran from City Hall all the way up to 145th Street, whisking New Yorkers from downtown to uptown in record time.
Before that, the same trip could take hours — but the subway cut it down to just about 15 minutes. Now that’s what you call progress!
Fun twists from subway history:
Mayor on a Mission: On opening day, Mayor George McClellan Jr. was so thrilled he took the controls himself and refused to hand them back. For one unforgettable ride, he became “Mayor Motorman.”
Secret Beauty: The City Hall station was built as a showpiece, with curved glass tiles, chandeliers, and arches that looked more like a ballroom than a train stop. It closed in 1945, but still sits underground like a hidden time capsule.
Tunnel of Doom: The 191st Street tunnel sits 173 feet below ground and was once so dark and foreboding that locals dubbed it the “Tunnel of Doom.” It only started feeling safe after artists transformed it with colorful murals in 2015.
Team IRT: The company was so much a part of city life that it even had its own baseball team. The subway didn’t just move people—it built community spirit.
The Five-Cent Fare: Believe it or not, riders paid only five cents to ride the train—from 1904 all the way until 1948. That’s 44 years without a single fare increase!
From skeptical beginnings to secret stations and eerie tunnels, the IRT’s story is pure New York: bold, brilliant, and always on the move.
