New York Transit Museum
Museum Museum in Brooklyn preserving New York transit history
Housed in a decommissioned Brooklyn subway station, the New York Transit Museum displays vintage subway cars, tokens, maps and exhibits on the city’s transportation history; families and transit buffs ride restored cars and study system engineering.
The New York Transit Museum is a museum of urban transit history located in a decommissioned subway station in Brooklyn Heights, New York City. It preserves and interprets the history of the city’s public transportation system with a focus on rolling stock, stations and infrastructure.
A principal attraction is the platform-level exhibition where restored subway and elevated cars are displayed on the tracks in the former station environment. Additional galleries at street level present photographs, maps, artifacts and changing exhibitions about construction, operation and social history of transit in New York.
The museum opened in 1976 and has operated in the old IND-era station space since then, combining preserved historic vehicles with interpretive programming and education. It also runs outreach and temporary exhibits across the city.
The museum sits beneath the streets of Brooklyn Heights at the former Court Street station, within walking distance of Borough Hall and other downtown Brooklyn transit hubs.
- Location and opening: Located in a former subway station at Court Street in Brooklyn Heights, the museum opened in 1976 and is known for its collection of historic subway and elevated cars.
What to See #
- Platform exhibition: Platform-level exhibition space in a decommissioned IND station where restored subway cars and vintage rolling stock are displayed.
- Entrance gallery and exhibits: An above-ground gallery and entrance area that presents rotating exhibits, photographs and interpretive displays about New York's transit history.
How to Get to New York Transit Museum #
From Manhattan, take the A/C to Jay Street-MetroTech or the 2/3 to Hoyt-Schermerhorn; the museum occupies a decommissioned subway station at Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street in Downtown Brooklyn.
Tips for Visiting New York Transit Museum #
- Reserve timed-entry tickets in advance for weekend visits to avoid lines at the subway‑station entrance (Brooklyn location in an old IND station at Boerum Place).
- Ask for the guided tour of decommissioned subway cars-these tours are scheduled and limited.
- Bring exact change for some souvenir machines-small, vintage transit tokens make memorable keepsakes.
Best Time to Visit New York Transit Museum #
Best to visit on weekday mornings or off-peak afternoons to avoid school groups and weekend crowds.
Weather & Climate near New York Transit Museum #
New York Transit Museum's climate is classified as Humid Subtropical - Humid Subtropical climate with warm summers (peaking in July) and freezing winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from -4°C to 29°C. Abundant rainfall (1199 mm/year), wettest in July, distributed fairly evenly throughout the year.
January
January is the coldest month with highs of 4°C and lows of -4°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
Comfort
Weather
February
February is cold with highs of 5°C and lows of -3°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm).
Comfort
Weather
March
March is cold with highs of 10°C and lows of 1°C. Significant rainfall (105 mm).
Comfort
Weather
April
April is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 6°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).
Comfort
Weather
May
May is cool with highs of 22°C and lows of 11°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm).
Comfort
Weather
June
June is mild with highs of 26°C and lows of 16°C. Regular rainfall (92 mm).
Comfort
Weather
July
July is the warmest month with highs of 29°C and lows of 20°C. The wettest month with heavy rain (115 mm).
Comfort
Weather
August
August is mild with highs of 28°C and lows of 19°C. Significant rainfall (111 mm).
Comfort
Weather
September
September is mild with highs of 24°C and lows of 15°C. Significant rainfall (101 mm).
Comfort
Weather
October
October is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Regular rainfall (91 mm).
Comfort
Weather
November
November is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Significant rainfall (103 mm).
Comfort
Weather
December
December is cold with highs of 7°C and lows of -1°C. Regular rainfall (95 mm).
