On-site School Programs

School programs at the Transit Museum use the Museum’s unique space and hands-on collection to explore how transportation helped shape New York City throughout history to present day. Programs use a mix of inquiry, observation, primary and secondary sources, and hands-on activities to engage learners of all ages and abilities.

Thursdays and Fridays: 10:00AM and 11:15AM

In-person programs are 60 minutes

Programs

Moving Our Communities

General & Special Education: Pre-Kindergarten – 2nd Grade

Through imaginative play and our interactive collection of buses and trains, students explore New York City’s different modes of transportation and learn about community workers.

Miles of Tiles

General & Special Education: Kindergarten – 12th Grade

Discover the variety of art found throughout New York City’s transportation system, including visual art, poetry, and music, through an immersive tour of the Museum’s exhibits and vintage train collection that explores the connection between public art and mass transit.

Journey to the Past

General & Special Education: 1st – 4th Grade

Learn about life, work, science, and transportation throughout New York City’s past and present. Explore the Museum’s vintage train collection to explore life in New York City over time through interactive storytelling.

Moving the Millions

General & Special Education: 4th – 12th Grade

Discover the magnitude and complexity of New York City’s public transportation system by exploring elements of construction, engineering, organization and impact over time in this introduction to transit history.

Subway Tracks

Special Education only; 6th Grade – Adult Learners

Explore New York City’s subway system from past to present. Track the history of our complex transit system on a tour of our vintage train collection while also discussing how we safely ride the subway today, from entering the system with a MetroCard or OMNY tap, to recognizing potential concerns and social cues.

For questions about programs and the booking process, please email [email protected].

For questions about accessibility and Special Education programs, please email [email protected].

Review and download a social narrative to prepare students for a School Program at the New York Transit Museum.

Dates and Times

School programs are offered Thursdays and Fridays at the following times:
• 10:00am – 11:00am
• 11:15am – 12:15pm
.

Group Size & Payment

Group size includes students, parents, teachers, and chaperones. Please book classes separately and do not combine classes.

General Education Programs: $200.00 per class of up to 36 participants (including students, teachers and chaperones).

Special Education Programs: $100.00 per class of up to 17 participants (including students, teachers and chaperones).

The number of children and adults reserved at booking is the maximum number of people you may bring the day of your visit. Payment is due upon booking. Credit card payments are preferred; Department of Education Purchase Orders are accepted. If payment is not received two weeks prior to your visit, your program will be canceled. Refunds cannot be given less than two weeks before your visit. If school bus service is suspended due to inclement weather or other factors, we may be able to reschedule groups. Additional payment information will be sent upon booking.

Planning Your Visit

Reservations are required for all group visits. The Museum does not allow self-guided or unscheduled groups at any time. The Museum does not have lunch facilities. We encourage groups to eat, weather permitting, at some nearby outdoor eating options including Columbus Park, Korean War Veterans Plaza or Cadman Plaza Park. The Museum does not have a coat or bag check and cannot store backpacks and coats during your program. We recommend leaving backpacks and other personal items on your bus or at school.

Arrivals & Departures

Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your scheduled tour; the Museum cannot accommodate entry any earlier. Upon arrival, your educator will meet you at the top of the stairs outside the Museum. Do not enter until you are with your educator. Masks, covering the nose and mouth, are required at all times while inside the Museum for group visits. Late arriving groups will receive an abbreviated program. We cannot extend tours due to late arrival for any reason. If you anticipate a late arrival, please email [email protected].

All groups must depart at their scheduled time. Groups may not stay in the Museum after the program ends.

Accessibility

Upon booking, you will be asked to share any specific needs for your group so we can best assist you. The Transit Museum is wheelchair accessible via a lift which has a total weight limit of 450 pounds. The lift moves slowly and allows one person at a time, so please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your program’s start time. If you need to use the lift, please inform us in advance. For more information about accessibility options, including ASL Interpreters and listening devices, please visit the Museum’s accessibility page on our website.

Transportation

Traveling by Subway
Taking the train is the best way to begin your visit to the Transit Museum. We are conveniently locateda short walk from:
Borough Hall Station: 2, 3, 4, and 5 lines (0.2 miles)
Jay Street MetroTech Station: A, C, F, and R (0.2 miles)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station: A, C, and G (0.2 miles)
Certificates for Free Transportation are provided by NYC Transit to travel to and from school trips.
Traveling by School Bus
Buses may drop off students on either Boerum Place or Schermerhorn Street. Parking is limited and unpredictable in Downtown Brooklyn.