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Subway Style

The railway and its equipment…constitute a great public work. All parts
of the structure where exposed to public sight shall therefore be designed,
constructed and maintained with a view to the beauty of their appearance,
as well as their efficiency.

Contract for the Construction of a Rapid Transit Railroad, 1899

As part of the MTA celebration of the 100th anniversary of the New York City subway system, the New York Transit Museum organized Subway Style: 100 Years of Architecture and Design in the New York City Subway, a free exhibit in Vanderbilt Hall of Grand Central Terminal. Sponsored by MasterCard International, the exhibition features a broad range of historic artifacts, archival documents, drawings, and vintage and contemporary photographs from the Museum’s collection. The exhibition – which continues through November 5 -- illustrates the visual elements of the subway, from station architecture and ornamentation to furnishings, subway cars, advertising, and map design, and reflects shifts in taste and technology over the past 100 years.

The original planners of the New York City subway, in particular chief engineer William Barclay Parsons, were strongly influenced by the “City Beautiful” movement, which believed that uplifting art and architecture would bring out people’s better qualities. Architects and designers were commissioned to give the system a distinctive style. Furniture, lighting, signs, and other features were designed for beauty as well as utility. Instead of building a system in which each station looked much like all the others, the first subway line featured mosaics and other ornamental features that gave each space a distinctive appearance. The builders created facilities worthy of New York, and their legacy of attention to and respect for a functional yet beautiful subway system continued throughout the twentieth century.

Today, the MTA is to be guided by the same principles as the first planners: to make the system both beautiful and inviting. As subway and commuter railroad stations are renovated, the MTA Arts for Transit program guides the repair and restoration of original mosaics and commissions new works from contemporary artists. The tradition of making each station uniquely appealing is evident in the variety of artwork, which reflects the history and vibrancy of the city’s many communities and also creates a sense of comfort and security, making transportation inviting as well as convenient and quick.

A large-format book, also titled Subway Style: 100 Years of Architecture and Design in the New York City Subway, written by the New York Transit Museum and published by Stewart, Tabori & Chang, accompanies the exhibition. The book is available at the New York Transit Museum stores in Grand Central Terminal and Brooklyn Heights and online at the Transit Museum Store.

Subway Style: 100 Years of Architecture and Design in the New York City Subway

An exhibition organized by the New York Transit Museum
presented by MasterCard® International

Vanderbilt Hill
Grand Central Terminal

Through November 5, 2004

Open Monday through Friday 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Saturday, Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Free admission