Group of students sitting and standing inside of a vintage subway ad

GROUP VISITS

SCHOOL AND YOUTH TOURS

Our school group tours use the museum’s unique space and hands-on collection to explore how transportation helped shape New York City and the surrounding region throughout history to present day. Tours include a mix of inquiry, observation, and interactive activities to engage learners of all ages and abilities. Tours are aligned with learning standards and support many curriculum areas. They are a great way for school and youth groups to explore the Museum.

TOUR SCHEDULE:
In-Person (60 Minutes)
Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday: 10am, 11am, 11:30am, 12:30pm, and 1pm
Saturday, DOE Winter and Spring Breaks: 10:30am and 12pm

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GROUP RATES

NYC Title 1 Public Schools

 

$225

NYC Public Schools

 

$250

Private, Charter, and non-NYC Schools

$300

Special Education Groups:

(Self Contained)

$100

Fee Waiver – Title 1 NYC Public Schools

A limited number of fee waivers are available for Title 1 schools. The waiver is limited to one class per school each year. The application process runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Title 1 School Group Tour Fee Waiver Information & Application. Please email [email protected] for more information.

Group of students sitting in vintage subway car excitedly raising their hands to answer questions

Group Sizes

General Education & ICT Groups

PreK: Up to 18 students (3-9 chaperones)
Kindergarten – 3rd Grade: Up to 25 students (up to 7 chaperones)
4th – 12th Grade: Up to 25 students (up to 5 chaperones)

Special Education (Self-Contained) Groups

17 participants (including youth and chaperones)

 

* Please book one class per tour, and do not combine classes.

School Group Tours

The Transit Museum offers five unique group experiences for school and youth groups. Read about tour program options below and check out our step-by-step instructions on how to book group tours using Explorable Places.

Blue and white bus with stairs to seating on view at the Transit Museum

General & Special Education: Pre K-K

Rails & Roads

Introduce young learners (age 3-6) to the history of public transportation during an immersive and hands-on tour. This program will spark students’ curiosity and support social emotional learning through singing, story-time, movement, and play. Students will establish a preliminary understanding of public transportation while having tactile and sensory encounters with history through exploration of our vintage train collection and subway station-turned-museum.

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Blue and brown subway mosaic

General & Special Education: K-12 Grade

Art on the Go

Discover the diverse range of art and design found throughout New York City and the surrounding region’s transportation system, including visual art, poetry, and music. This is an immersive tour of the Museum’s exhibits and vintage train collection that explores the connection between public art and mass transit.

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Interior of a vintage subway car with blue and yellow floors

General & Special Education: 1-12 Grade

Journey to the Past

Take a step into the past and experience life in NYC during the late 1800s-early 1900’s. Explore the museum’s immersive vintage train collection and learn about the individuals who contributed to the development and improvement of NYC public transportation. From inventors, construction workers, to civil rights activists, learn the stories of the people who helped shape New York City’s mass transit. This tour includes a mix of storytelling and inquiry- and object-based discussions and activities.

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Motor truck on display on the museum's platform, vintage train car seen in the background

General & Special Education: 4-12 Grade

Moving the Millions

Examine the history of the New York City subway system through the lens of engineering, technological innovation, and problem solving. Learn about the evolution of transit from the construction of the subway to the design of train cars. Students will engage in hands-on activities and have the chance to brainstorm solutions to age-old transportation challenges.

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Subway map and roll sign in interior of vintage subway car

Special Education Only; 6th Grade – Adult Learners

Subway Tracks

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.

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General
Information

Planning a school or youth group visit to the Transit Museum? You’ll find key details here to help make your trip a success.

For additional questions about school group tours 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 participants for a group tour at the New York Transit Museum.

Payment

Payment by credit card is preferred but checks and DOE Purchase Orders are also accepted. If payment is not received three weeks prior to your visit, your program will be canceled. Refunds cannot be given less than three 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. 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].

Cancellations

Tours are non-refundable within three weeks of the scheduled visit, though changes to times and dates may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis and as space allows.

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 located a 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. For more information and application link: Transportation Program – DYCD (nyc.gov)

Traveling by School Bus
Buses may drop off students on either Boerum Place or Schermerhorn Street. Parking is limited and unpredictable in Downtown Brooklyn.

TEACHER RESOURCES

The New York Transit Museum works with teachers, parents, caregivers and students to develop free resources for learning and engagement in and out of the classroom. Virtual visit videos with Museum Educators, archival images, lesson plans, suggested reading lists, and background information can be used on their own or to continue the learning after a previous visit to the Museum.

Journey to the Past

Learn about the history of transportation in New York City, and compare the past and present through the lens of public transit.

Screen shot of lesson plan
Lesson Plans
Screenshot of Object Spotlight teacher resource
Object Spotlight: Car 1407
Screenshot of teacher resource on rattan art
Workshop: Rattan Art
Screenshot of teacher resource on Granville T Woods
Transit Innovator: Granville T. Woods
Screenshot of teacher resource on subway construction
Subway Construction: Then & Now
Screenshot of virtual videos page
Virtual Visit Videos

Art on the Go

Discover the relationship between art and the New York City Transit system through visual art, music and poetry.

Screen shot of lesson plan for Miles of Tiles
Lesson Plans
Screenshot of teacher resource for Cortland St Ferry Plaque
Object Spotlight: Cortlandt Street Ferry Plaque
Screenshot of virtual walkthrough of R33 Bluebird
Virtual Walkthrough: R33 Bluebird
Screenshot of teacher resource for art adventures in the subway
Resource: Art Adventures on the Subway
Screenshot for teacher resource on 137 St Station Terracotta Plaque
Object Spotlight: 137th St Station Terracotta Plaque
Screenshot of teacher resource for Courtesy Counts workshop
Family Workshop: Courtesy Counts
Screenshot of virtual videos page
Virtual Visit Videos

CONTINUING TEACHER & LEADER EDUCATION (CTLE)

The New York Transit Museum is an approved sponsor of Continuing Teacher & Leader Education (CTLE). Our programs explore curriculum-aligned topics in Social Studies, Sciences, and the Arts and provide practical strategies for using Transit Museum collections and exhibitions to support the school curriculum.

For more information about professional development or to book a custom workshop, please email [email protected].