As part of my research i wrote to the new york city transit authority asking for any maps or plans i could use in my project. The fifth and latest edition of the aia guide, first published in 1967 and most recently revised in 2010, showed up on three different experts lists. Originally opened in 1904, this ornate station was the showpiece of the new. Though you and i are only familiar with a single mta map, dozens of other maps have attempted to make the nyc subway, er, reasonably comprehensive over the years. Heres my 25 favorite books about new york city history. This book was rather disappointing since a lot of it was just excerpts from other more lengthy and in depth books.
The project is by rosy saliba kehdi and hollie fraser. We asked readers to share anecdotes about how the subway. The new york city subway is a rapid transit system that serves four of the five boroughs of new york city, new york. May 6, 2018 may 14, 2018 elina18 new york city is wellknown for its plastered walls and subways by graffiti, but surprisingly, graffiti originated in philadelphia. 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. The museum of the city of new york holds more than 1. The independent system and city ownership, 1977 frederick a.
The history of americas largest and most famous subway system looks at the construction and history of one of the worlds biggest and busiest public transportation systems. Its not an exaggeration to say that new yorks subway. The first was issued in 1953, followed by new versions in 1970, 1980, 1986, and this one in 1995. Again, a very new york story and one that i think kids will both appreciate and enjoy the way it depicts how new yorkers come together on the train.
New york city subway punchout book ny transit museum store. Jan 17, 2020 a comprehensive guide to the subways history, unspoken rules of conduct, and more insider intel. White to patti smith, these are some of the best books written about new york city. The first subway line in new york city opened on october 27, 1904. Silver connections, volume i, celebrates the construction of new yorks very first subway line. 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. Roess and gene samsone and new york underground by julia solis. 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 last one hundred years. The book is accompanied by an engaging, illustrated history of the subway system. A comprehensive guide to the new york city subways history, unspoken. An illustrated history of new york citys transit cars, 18672004. Working with them has become an important part of our campaigns, and our authors love seeing their books all around nyc.
Another novel in which new york city has been drownedmuch less whimsically, but somehow more humorously robinson has described the novel as a comedy of coping. Published in honor of the new york city subways centennial, the city beneath. 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. The history and photography of the original, unused city hall subway station, the most beautiful subway station in new york. 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. Then jump into one of these great books on the history of new york city transportation 722 miles by clifton hood, the race underground by doug most, the wheels that drove new york city by roger p. A history of the new york city subway system joseph cunningham, leonard o. Jul 30, 20 23 comments on heres my 25 favorite books about new york city history. There are new books every day, and theyre there to be taken, read, shared, and most importantly, enjoyed. 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.
The case for the subway, he concluded, is the case for new york city itself. 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. This is a slim little book, some 6 pages long, that was written at some distance from the new york city subway system, by a californian. The first new york city subway would lead to many innovations. The last subway tokens were sold on april 12, 2003. The book is brief and concise which is a problem in this. This is the ny transit museums second major book about the history of the subway following evolution of new york city subways. When it first opened on october 27, 1904, the new york city subway ran. In 1932, the citys board of transportation completed construction of the eighth avenue line and created the independent rapid transit railroad ind, the first cityrun subway service. The worst subway accident in new yorks history occurred in 1918 when a conductor who was filling in for a striking motorman lost control of his train while entering a tunnel on brooklyns malbone.
How new york city subways signage evolved from a visual mess to a uniform system with helvetica triumphant. New york, westchester, and boston railway this pioneering but shortlived electric railroad in the bronx and westchester county contributed the dyre avenue branch to the subway system in 1940. It is 2140, and the oceans have risen by 50 feet, drowning lower manhattan when the tide is in, and effectively turning the cloisters into. On june 15, 1953, the new york state legislature created the new york city transit authority now mta new york city transit as a separate public corporation to manage and operate all cityowned bus, trolley, and subway routes. Start with joseph brennans excellent research and presentation online. New york city subway history history of the new york city subway lines and routes list of new york city subway lines list of new york city subway services a division a division new york city subway interborough rapid transit company 1 new york city subway service 2 new york city subway service 3 new york city subway service. A comprehensive guide to the subways history, unspoken rules of conduct, and more insider intel. New york city contains roughly 660 miles of subway track connecting 468 subway stationsthe lowest of which is located 180 feet below street level. Its like a public library, but on the new york subway.
Includes the history of the various subway lines, pictures of trains through the years and old maps of the system. Though the new york city subway is by far the busiest subway system in the united states with 1. American institute of architects guide to new york city by norval white, elliot willensky, and fran leadon. A 42page introduction gives the reader a brief history of the system, a primer on subway. 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.
I was doing a grade 10 high school project on urban transportation. New york city subway resources unofficial site on the new york city subway system. The history of americas largest and most famous subway system is an interesting book. 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.
New york city subway history history of the new york city subway lines and routes list of new york city subway lines list of new york city subway services a division a division new york city subway interborough rapid transit company 1 new york city. The seminal new york city sewergator event came on feb. When the city purchased the bmt and irt in 1940, it became the sole owner and. Their main goal was to see how many places they could bomb with their signature. Mar 04, 2016 the history and photography of the original, unused city hall subway station, the most beautiful subway station in new york. The book is a concise little history of the new york subways. I doubt that the author consistently rode the subway s during rush hour. Nov 29, 2004 the first subway line in new york city opened on october 27, 1904. Jan 11, 2018 the case for the subway, he concluded, is the case for new york city itself. 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. Aug 23, 2004 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.
Asce metropolitan section first new york city subway. Books on the subway is an excellent team committed to bringing books directly to the audience. The subway sparrow is the story of a sparrow that gets caught on the train and how the many different people, speaking different languages, who ride the train work together to help it. The subway sparrow is the story of a sparrow that gets caught on the train and how the many different people, speaking different languages, who ride the train work together. Kramer, building the independent subway new york, ny. New york underground from the national geographic society. 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. An illustrated history of new york city s transit cars, 18672004. To celebrate the centennial of this event, the johns hopkins university press presents a. Passengers originally paid for a subway ride with a ticket. May 06, 2018 the graffiti writers of new york city started by the trains, including subway cars and areas under the tracks.
Its operator is the new york city transit authority nycta, which is controlled by the metropolitan transportation authority mta of new york. For years, the signs in the new york city subway system were a bewildering hodgepodge of lettering styles, sizes, shapes, materials, colors, and messages. Produced under the auspices of new york s metropolitan transit authority, this comprehensive account of the. The subway made it a place where anything was possible. The original mosaics dating from as early as 1904, displaying a variety of serif and sans serif letters and decorative. I chose to write my work on the topic of the new york subway system even though i had yet to ride on it. Its a fun book that sneaks in some fascinating history of americas first subway system, and its the perfect gift for any new yorker or new yorkaphile you might. Helvetica and the new york city subway system the mit press.
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. Not just a gift to me, but to the history of new york city. New york city history resources city university of new york. This was the first acquisition or construction of new lines since the ind subway work in the 1930s. Its a fun book that sneaks in some fascinating history of americas first subway system, and the perfect gift for any new yorker or new yorkophile you might. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about the new york city subway like never before. In the 1960s, the first graffiti writers cornbread and cool earl started to use their black markers to tag themselves on all public property. 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 celebration, dont miss the.
Readers share their new york subway stories the new york times. The truth about alligators in the sewers of new york. Theres even a childrens book on this subject called. Every day, we and a bunch of book ninjas go out and leave some of our favorite books on the new york subway. This illegal act became popular among workingclass teenagers, specifically the latinos and african americans in washington heights, the bronx, and. Full history and discription of each type with many color photograhes and dementional drawing of every type. New york city was one of the last major transit systems to adopt an electronic fare system, which was finally set in motion with the first electronic turnstile and sale of metrocards in 1994. Joseph cunningham and leonard dehart, a history of the new york city subway system. Its not an exaggeration to say that new yorks subway system is the lifeblood of this city. The metropolitan transportation authority, or mta, is the statewide agency that oversees the various masstransit systems within new york statenot just the nyc subway, but also the city bus system, commuter rail lines, bridges and tunnels, and the staten island railway. This is the only publication to completely discribe one of the worlds largest subway fleet.