Digital Discussion: Minutes to Midtown: Long Island City

The construction of the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Flushing line, originally known as the Corona Line but known to most as the 7 train, sparked a real estate boom that transformed the mostly rural areas of Queens into vibrant neighborhoods- even prior to its opening in 1915. One of these neighborhoods, Long Island City, began, like most of Queens, as a collection of farms. The political and financial backing that came with Queens’ consolidation into New York City in 1898 supported long-imagined and much-needed infrastructure projects, such as the opening of the Queensboro Bridge in 1909 and of the Steinway Tunnels in 1915.

Join Associate Curator Jodi Shapiro for a digital discussion tracing more than 100 years of history of the first subway line in Queens. Together, we will explore the impact of the IRT Flushing Line on the development of the Long Island City, Queens and highlight its key role in the economic and social development of New York City.

Photo by Patrick Cashin MTA / New York City Transit, 2014.