Public Programs

Experience transit history firsthand!

Throughout the year, the New York Transit Museum offers special opportunities to ride our beloved vintage trains across the system and to destinations throughout the city. Our Nostalgia Rides transport straphangers through time, using the very same equipment that city dwellers traveled in over the past 120 years. Each season offers a variety of rides, with journeys to the Bronx, Coney Island, the Rockaways, and even through Manhattan—featuring different trains from our rotating fleet.

Explore New York City transit with us!

Our seasonal tours and excursions offer a unique way to see the city. Led by expert guides, each experience highlights a different side of New York, visiting key transit sites, historic landmarks, and diverse neighborhoods. Topics range from art and culture, to in-depth looks at transit history, engineering, and construction, with tours spanning all five boroughs.

Two of our signature offerings are the Jewel in the Crown: Old City Hall Station tour and Underground NYC – Subway 101.

The Transit Museum hosts free events throughout the year, bringing transit history across the city.

Our vintage fleets travel beyond the Museum’s walls, giving New Yorkers the chance to experience historic trains and buses up close. Highlights include the Holiday Nostalgia Rides—where vintage trains run in regular service on select days each winter—and the Parade of Trains, a two-day event on the Brighton Line. Both events offer the rare chance to ride historic train cars for the cost of a MetroCard swipe or OMNY tap. The annual Bus Festival also showcases our historic surface transit fleet and features activities for all ages.

The Transit Museum offers a one-of-a-kind setting for discovery, creativity, and connection.

Visitors can attend lectures by historians and transit experts, test their knowledge at trivia nights, watch live performances inspired by the city’s transit system, or participate in hands-on workshops that bring transit history to life. Whether you’re looking to deepen your knowledge, tap into your creativity, or simply socialize with old friends or meet new ones, the Museum’s programs offer something for every age and interest.

Our virtual programs bring the Transit Museum experience to you—wherever you are.

Join us online for conversations, presentations, workshops, and performances inspired by the Museum’s exhibitions and collections. Connect with others, exchange ideas, and explore the rich history of transit and New York City from the comfort of home.

Enjoy a selection of past programs on our YouTube channel.