Upcoming Programs

New Yorkers in the early 1900s saw their city as the new cultural and commercial capital, deserving of a majestic landmark. The vibrant City Beautiful movement, meanwhile, promoted architectural excellence. Grand Central Terminal satisfied both desires, invigorating midtown Manhattan and transforming regional transportation.
Join Museum Educator Joe Hartman for a digital discussion on the evolution of Grand Central Terminal. Explore how it was constructed in stages to serve the demands of the city’s expanding population and how the grandeur and opulence of its architecture has continued to attract travelers and sightseers alike.
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

As New York’s subway system was being planned at the turn of the 20th century, transit officials did what any large construction company would do today: hired an official photographer to take survey photographs and provide precise documentation of an area prior to—and during—construction.
Join Associate Curator Jodi Shapiro for a digital discussion of Streetscapes & Subways: Photographs by Pierre P. and Granville W. Pullis , an exhibition that provides a rare view of the last days of “old New York” through the lenses of two of the earliest photographers of subway construction. The photographs transcend their original purpose, showing New York changing daily as a result of the subway and revealing architectural and cultural details of a city that would otherwise be long forgotten.
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy made landfall on the East Coast. The storm caused record breaking water surges and had devastating, long-lasting impacts on New York City’s transportation system. The MTA had to move quickly to get the system that moves millions of people back up and running.
Join Museum Educator Kate Lanceley for a digital discussion about the impact of Superstorm Sandy on the city’s subway system. Learn about what the MTA has done to repair the damage from the storm and the measures being taken to be prepared for the future.
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

Courtesy is a word that is increasingly becoming synonymous with expected behavior while riding public transportation. In New York City, courtesy campaigns have been implemented from the 1940s to the present day with the “Courtesy Counts!” campaign, in order to convince riders that manners matter.
Join Museum Educator Delia Ramos for a digital discussion about the evolution of courtesy campaigns in New York City’s subway system, and explore the various characters and catch phrases used in these campaigns. 
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

As New York’s subway system was being planned at the turn of the 20th century, transit officials did what any large construction company would do today: hired an official photographer to take survey photographs and provide precise documentation of an area prior to—and during—construction.
Join Associate Curator Jodi Shapiro for a digital discussion of Streetscapes & Subways: Photographs by Pierre P. and Granville W. Pullis , an exhibition that provides a rare view of the last days of “old New York” through the lenses of two of the earliest photographers of subway construction. The photographs transcend their original purpose, showing New York changing daily as a result of the subway and revealing architectural and cultural details of a city that would otherwise be long forgotten.
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

In October 2012, Superstorm Sandy made landfall on the East Coast. The storm caused record breaking water surges and had devastating, long-lasting impacts on New York City’s transportation system. The MTA had to move quickly to get the system that moves millions of people back up and running.
Join Museum Educator Kate Lanceley for a digital discussion about the impact of Superstorm Sandy on the city’s subway system. Learn about what the MTA has done to repair the damage from the storm and the measures being taken to be prepared for the future.
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

American cities were full of horses in the 1800s. Not only were they the motive power for tranportation, they also moved freight, construction materials, and even powered boats. As the earliest form of city transit, omnibuses and horsecars were particularly numerous in Manhattan, whose streets were filled with many lines that carried thousands of people per day. As more people began to move to the New York area in search of a better life, the waste generated by horses as well as humans reached a critical mass and resulted in health problems for animals and people alike. 
Join Associate Curator Jodi Shapiro and Pratt Institute Professor and environmental historian Carl A. Zimring for a digital discussion about the intricate relationship between horses, sanitation and transportation in New York City. Learn about the overall impact of horses as the dominant mode of transportation in the 1800s, the increase of the wave of epidemics in the United States and the unintentional consequences of transitioning from horsepower and fossil fuels. 
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

Courtesy is a word that is increasingly becoming synonymous with expected behavior while riding public transportation. In New York City, courtesy campaigns have been implemented from the 1940s to the present day with the “Courtesy Counts!” campaign, in order to convince riders that manners matter.
Join Museum Educator Delia Ramos for a digital discussion about the evolution of courtesy campaigns in New York City’s subway system, and explore the various characters and catch phrases used in these campaigns. 
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

Join us for an informal discussion of one of our favorite transit movies, The French Connection! Find it on your favorite streaming platform, and join a group to discuss how and where the famous transit chase scene was shot, which stations were used in filming, and talk about the context of New York City Transit in the early 1970s. 
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

One of the most intriguing components of the New York City transportation system is the evolution of seating design in its subway cars, buses, and stations. During their commutes, riders are often faced with the choice to either sit, stand, learn or hang on the poles. Quality seating design over the years has either made this an easy decision, or a tough one.
Join Curator Kathleen Hulser for a digital discussion about the various iterations of seating design in the New York City transportation system. Discover the key decisions that contributed to the different configurations over the years, and future designs to increase comfort while maximizing space. 
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

Advertisements in the New York City transportation system are nearly as iconic as the subway cars themselves. From the first elevated train advertisement in 1884, to posters for products we recognize today, eye-catching advertisements have been used over time to communicate information quickly to commuters and tourists alike.
Join Coordinator Rosa Palermo for a digital discussion on the history of advertising in New York City’s subway system, and discover how these signs of the times communicated with straphangers over the years. 

Limited spots available! RSVP here >

The New York Transit Museum has a fascinating and unique history. The former Court Street station in downtown Brooklyn, once home to the HH shuttle train, opened in 1936 but closed ten years later due to low ridership. Court Street station opened as the New York Transit Exhibition as part of the celebration of the United States bicentennial in 1976, and today is home to the New York Transit Museum, the largest museum in North America devoted to public transportation.
Join Visitor Experience Facilitator Niko Goutakolis for a digital discussion about the origin story of the New York Transit Museum and discover our 46-year history beneath the surface. 

Limited spots available! RSVP here >

100 years before Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat, a 24-year-old black New Yorker stood her ground on a streetcar. Her name was Elizabeth Jennings Graham.Join Education Manager Polly Desjarlais for a digital discussion highlighting Jennings Graham's courage and perseverance as she fought for equality, winning the first recorded legal victory for equal rights on public transportation, and creating a powerful catalyst in the fight for desegregation on all of New York's public transit vehicles.
Limited spots available! RSVP here >

One of the most intriguing components of the New York City transportation system is the evolution of seating design in its subway cars, buses, and stations. During their commutes, riders are often faced with the choice to either sit, stand, learn or hang on the poles. Quality seating design over the years has either made this an easy decision, or a tough one.
Join Curator Kathleen Hulser for a digital discussion about the various iterations of seating design in the New York City transportation system. Discover the key decisions that contributed to the different configurations over the years, and future designs to increase comfort while maximizing space. 
Limited spots available! RSVP here >