New York Transit Museum: All Aboard

Hi everyone and happy January. As some of you know, I reside in New York City, a place that is home to several wonderful museums. One of the lesser-known museums is the New York Transit Museum in Downtown Brooklyn. In December 2021, I had the pleasure of visiting for the first time. Allow me to share my experience visiting this hidden gem. I hope that my tips will help make your visit to the New York Transit Museum more amazing.

The entrance to the New York Transit Museum. It is located in a decommissioned subway station at 99 Schermerhorn Street Brooklyn, NY 11201. As of December 2021, it is open Friday-Sundays 11:00 Am – 4:00 Pm.

1. What is there to see in the New York Transit Museum?

Overall, this museum offers a rich history of the development of the NYC transit system. It includes a gallery of old photographs, old turnstiles, and vintage train cars visitors can walk around on. The train cars range from the 1900s to the 1990s.

Photographs illustrating the procedure of waterproofing the subway system.

Old subway turnstile nicknamed the “Iron Maiden”.

A collection of tokens that were used for the subway fare!

Information about the workers of the New York Transit Museum

I am exploring a subway car from 1904!

This is the only time I can feel like the main character on the B Train.

2. Are there any policies that visitors should know regarding COVID-19?

In addition to advanced tickets, proof of vaccination, valid I.D., and masks are all required upon entry. In the museum, the staff and volunteers are strict about keeping masks on at all times, even for photos.

I am sporting a KN95 mask while “riding” a bus in the museum.

3. Is there an admission fee?

The admission fee is $10/adult and $5/senior and children ages two years and older. The volunteer at the entrance told me that due to limited business days and hours, tickets sell out quickly. Although I was able to book a Friday ticket on the same day, I would still be mindful when planning your visit.

4. How much time did I spend at the New York Transit Museum?

My workplace is a five-minute walk from the museum. I had always intended to go on my 1-hour break. Instead, I dedicated at least half the day to visiting on my day off. It was a good choice since I spent three hours at the NY Transit Museum. After paying an admission fee, I wanted to have the full experience.

5. Is the New York Transit Museum suitable for solo visitors or a group of people?

This is a great place to either visit alone or with a few people. I went by myself because I decided to go at the last minute. Although there was plenty to enjoy by myself, it is a struggle for photo opportunities. Thankfully, a couple of nice visitors agreed to take some pictures for me.

A visitor took this picture for me. I am standing next to a “fishbowl” bus cab on my right.

This is a real booth from the 1960s. It was recently added to the museum within the past few years.

This is a cool place to take pictures with another person.

5. Is there anything else that visitors should be aware of when visiting the New York Transit Museum?

– First, photoshoots, selfie sticks, or any kind of photography equipment are not permitted in the museum. Keep this in mind if you plan on taking pictures by yourself.

– The second thing to be aware of is that there is no cell service in the museum. Plan accordingly and keep track of the time youspend exploring if you are meeting up with someone afterward.

– Thirdly, there are restrooms for visitors to use.

– Finally, visitors cannot explore every vintage car in the museum. I am unsure if this is due to COVID-19 or has been the case for a while. I overheard a few disappointed children complain to their parents. However, as of December, the vintage subway cars are open to visitors. It should not affect the museum experience.

This car has a barrier preventing people from exploring inside.

6. Is this worth visiting the New York Transit Museum?

I would say this is a place worth visiting if you are in Downtown Brooklyn. This is a good place to visit with children, adults or by yourself. The museum shines a spotlight on the transit construction workers and provides interactive exhibits. I also enjoyed the subway advertisements from all over the world. When I go again, I would like someone to accompany me.

Thank you for reading about my visit to the New York Transit Museum. I hope that some of you can visit and have as great of a time as I did! If you enjoyed this post, prepare for your visit.

The museum exit.