Brooklyn, NY
New York Transit Museum
4.7· 6,428 Google reviews
Trip at a Glance
Source checked 2026-08-25- TypeTransit museum in a decommissioned subway station with separately ticketed vintage-train rides
- LocationBrooklyn, NY
- Rating4.7 ★6,428 Google reviews
- UpcomingSat, Sep 26
About New York Transit Museum
The New York Transit Museum’s primary destination is a year-round museum inside the decommissioned Court Street subway station in Downtown Brooklyn. Admission lets visitors explore changing exhibitions and a rotating platform collection of roughly 20 vintage subway and elevated cars; it does not include a ride through the live subway system. Qualifying train rides are separately announced Nostalgia Rides with their own meeting point, ticket, equipment, route, accessibility, and rules. As of August 25, the complete official future calendar contains 51 sessions across 24 program types through December 16. Three sessions are qualifying train rides: An Afternoon Ride to The Green-Wood Cemetery on October 3 and morning and afternoon Fly Away Redbirds rides on November 7. Other entries are museum programs, walks, tours, films, talks, family activities, virtual programs, or the Bus Festival. That distinction keeps this museum-and-ride operator accurate without presenting every event as a train ride.
Choose a Museum, Ride, Tour, or Program
Choose the visit that fits your groupFirst-time visitors, families, transit enthusiasts, and anyone who wants the core collection
Brooklyn museum admission
Explore a decommissioned subway station, hands-on transit exhibits, and a rotating platform fleet. General admission is separate from every ride and special program.
Riders prepared for a five-hour off-site program and the operator’s date-specific walking and access conditions
An Afternoon Ride to The Green-Wood Cemetery
A separately ticketed October 3 vintage-train trip from 2–7 p.m. combining the ride with time at Green-Wood Cemetery. The operator controls the meeting point, itinerary, ticket availability, and equipment.
Riders who want a shorter vintage-subway round trip and can meet the operator’s date-specific access conditions
Fly Away Redbirds
Two separately ticketed November 7 round trips leave Old South Ferry at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. aboard Redbird cars. Each published session runs about 90–100 minutes and includes a train-yard view before returning downtown.
Visitors who want more than the historic cars and can work around the current climate-control notice
Current Brooklyn exhibitions
See the 50th-anniversary Stories exhibition, Ode to Orange Seats, FAREwell MetroCard, Ticket to Ride, Moving the Millions, On the Streets, and other selected-day galleries.
Families who want a structured activity rather than only self-guided galleries
Family and hands-on programs
The future feed includes Transit Tots, Subway Simulator Sunday, and Movers and Makers, each with its own age guidance, capacity, price, and museum-entry terms.
Adults and older children comfortable with urban walking, stairs, and live transit conditions
Transit walks and deep dives
Official off-site tours cover Downtown Brooklyn, Gowanus, Grand Central, Penn Station, Second Avenue, the J line, and Subway 101. Meeting points are not the museum by default.
Museum members able to meet the selected tour’s mobility and timing requirements
Old City Hall Station tours
Nineteen currently listed sessions visit the landmark station from September through December. These are members-only, separately ticketed tours—not a general-admission benefit.
Families and vehicle enthusiasts seeking a free outdoor extension of the museum
2026 Bus Festival
A free September 19 event in Brooklyn Bridge Park from 10 a.m.–3:30 p.m. with vintage buses and family activities; it is not a train ride.
Midtown visitors who cannot reach Brooklyn or want a smaller separate stop
Grand Central Gallery & Store
A separate free annex inside Grand Central Terminal at 89 East 42nd Street. Its exhibitions, hours, and retail operation are not included as the Brooklyn museum visit.
Upcoming Events
Official schedule information
2026 special-event calendar
Schedule information was checked against the linked official source. Dates, availability, and operating conditions can change. Check the live official calendar ↗
Plan Your Visit
- SeasonThe Brooklyn museum is generally open Wednesday–Sunday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m., and closed on Juneteenth, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Programs and rides use their own dates and locations
- AccessibilityThe accessible entrance uses a staff-operated lift with a 450-pound combined limit; some motorized wheelchairs may not fit. Allow an extra 10–20 minutes to move between floors. Some historic cars are not wheelchair accessible
- RestroomsRestrooms are available at the Brooklyn museum. Nostalgia rides have no onboard restrooms, so use station facilities before the ride if available
- Facility NoticeCurrent official notice checked August 25: an air-conditioning outage affects the back mezzanine and Education Center, and the museum says no areas are currently climate controlled. Recheck before visiting
- AdmissionGeneral Brooklyn admission is published at $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 2–17, adults 62+, and visitors with disabilities. Members and MTA employees are free; eligibility and current prices control
- TicketsAdvance museum reservations are strongly recommended and open on a rolling three-week basis. Limited walk-up tickets may be available. Nostalgia rides, tours, and special programs require their own separate tickets
- ArriveMuseum tickets use a 30-minute entry window. The museum asks guests not to arrive more than five minutes early. A timed program or off-site ride can publish a different meeting time
- ReentryGeneral museum admission does not permit reentry, and unused museum tickets are nonrefundable. With at least 24 hours’ notice, staff may transfer a ticket for illness if capacity allows
- EntranceThe public entrance is at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street and descends two flights. The wheelchair entrance is at Schermerhorn and Court Streets; press the call button for staff
- AccommodationsEmail access@nytransitmuseum.org or call 718-694-1735. ASL interpretation and blind/low-vision tours generally require two weeks’ notice; assistive listening, sensory toolkits, and other resources are published
- CrowdsThe museum identifies 1–4 p.m. Wednesday through Friday as generally quietest. Weekends, holidays, and public-school breaks can be crowded
- FoodFood and drink are not allowed anywhere in the museum and there are no lunch tables. Nostalgia rides also prohibit food and drink onboard
- BagsThere is no bag or coat check. Avoid large bags. Stroller parking is unattended, and strollers cannot use the accessible lift
- ConnectivityThere is no cell service inside the decommissioned station. Wi-Fi is available at the admission desk; save tickets and meeting details before descending
- PhotographyPersonal photography and short video are allowed within published rules. Tripods, selfie sticks, external lighting, professional, and commercial work require separate approval
- Ride RulesNostalgia riders must remain inside their assigned cars, keep arms and cameras inside, and not move between cars. Only service animals are allowed; pets and emotional-support animals are not
- Ride ChangesVintage equipment, route, timing, stations, and duration can change for operational reasons. Nostalgia rides run rain or shine, some cars lack air conditioning, and all sales are final, nonrefundable, and nontransferable
- GroupsGeneral museum parties of eight or more must book a staff-led group visit and cannot split transactions to bypass the group policy
Find the Depot
The Trains
The museum’s preserved fleet spans the development of New York urban transit, including early wooden BU elevated cars, steel Lo-V cars from 1916–25, R1–R9 “Arnines,” postwar cars, Bluebirds and Redbirds, buses, work equipment, and the experimental R110B. Approximately 20 subway and elevated cars are ordinarily displayed on the Court Street platform, but the consist rotates and not every car is accessible. A museum display is not evidence that a car will operate on a Nostalgia Ride. The current Fly Away Redbirds pages specifically identify Redbird subway cars; the Green-Wood page promises a vintage train without naming a class. Equipment, route, timing, and duration remain subject to operational change.
History
The oldest subway cars represented in the museum’s rotating fleet date to New York’s first subway era.
Court Street station opened on April 9 as the terminal of the HH Shuttle.
The short shuttle and Court Street station closed after a decade of low ridership.
A temporary New York City Transit Exhibition opened in the unused station on July 4 for the Bicentennial.
The museum temporarily closed during the COVID-19 emergency and later rebuilt its visitor operations.
The museum marked 50 years since the 1976 exhibition with new exhibitions and public programs.
See full history
Court Street station opened on April 9, 1936 as the Brooklyn terminal of the HH Shuttle to Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets, only about three blocks away. Low ridership led to closure in 1946. Three decades later, the New York City Transit Exhibition opened in the unused station on July 4, 1976 as a temporary Bicentennial project planned for two months. Its popularity established the permanent museum. Today the organization interprets city transit through the preserved station, rotating historic fleet, exhibitions, archives, education, public programs, off-site tours, and occasional vintage rides on the active system. The museum describes itself as the largest museum in the United States devoted to urban public transportation; exact collection-size claims conflict across current official pages, so this guide does not publish a numeric collection total.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does museum admission include a train ride?
No. General admission covers the Brooklyn museum. Nostalgia Rides operate separately in the live subway system with their own tickets, meeting points, equipment, routes, and rules.
What future train rides are currently announced?
As of August 25, the official calendar lists An Afternoon Ride to The Green-Wood Cemetery on October 3 and two Fly Away Redbirds sessions on November 7. Each uses separate tickets and date-specific meeting instructions.
Which cars will operate on the upcoming rides?
The November 7 pages name Redbird subway cars. The October 3 Green-Wood page promises a vintage train without naming its class. Equipment can change for operational reasons.
Where is the museum entrance?
The main entrance is at Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street and descends two flights. The wheelchair entrance is at Schermerhorn and Court Streets.
Is the museum air-conditioned?
The current official alert checked August 25 says an air-conditioning outage affects the back mezzanine and Education Center and that no areas are currently climate controlled. Recheck before visiting.
Should I reserve museum admission?
Yes. Advance reservations are strongly recommended and normally open on a rolling three-week basis. Limited walk-up tickets may be available.
Is the museum wheelchair accessible?
A staff-operated lift serves the accessible entrance with a 450-pound combined limit. Some motorized wheelchairs may not fit and some historic cars are inaccessible; allow an extra 10–20 minutes and contact the access team.
Are there restrooms on Nostalgia Rides?
No. The museum says no restroom is available onboard. Use available station facilities before departure.
Can I bring food?
Food and drink are not allowed anywhere in the museum or onboard Nostalgia Rides. The museum has no lunch tables.
Can I use my phone inside?
There is no cell service inside the former station. Wi-Fi is available near admissions, so save tickets and meeting information in advance.
Are Old City Hall tours included?
No. Current Old City Hall sessions are members-only and separately ticketed. They are off-site tours, not general museum admission or a Nostalgia Ride.
Is the Grand Central Gallery the same visit?
No. The Grand Central Gallery & Store is a separate free annex at 89 East 42nd Street in Manhattan with its own hours and exhibitions.
Sources & Verification
Source-checked August 25, 2026. This free profile has not yet been claimed or confirmed by the operator.
- Official Know Before You Visit page for current climate alert, Brooklyn address, hours, prices, reservations, ticket windows, entry, bags, food, groups, refunds, phone, and access entrance
- Official accessibility guide for lift limits, accessible entrance, extra time, car access, service animals, sensory tools, ASL, blind/low-vision tours, assistive listening, access email, and phone
- Official Nostalgia Rides guide for the current ride list and general ride rules, restroom, climate, safety, animal, photography, age, sale, and accommodation policies
- Dedicated official Green-Wood event page for the October 3 ride time, fares, access, ticket, and event-specific rules
- Dedicated official Redbirds morning event page for November 7 time, route, equipment, duration, fares, access, ticket, and event-specific rules
- Official WordPress Tribe Events API page 1 queried August 25 for the first 50 future sessions
- Official WordPress Tribe Events API page 2 queried August 25 for the final session in the complete 51-session inventory
- Official about page for the museum’s 1976 founding, Court Street setting, rotating fleet, hands-on experience, and institutional purpose
- Official vintage fleet guide for BU, Lo-V, R1–R9, Bluebird, Redbird, R110B, and changing collection context
- Official digital history for Court Street’s 1936 opening, 1946 closure, 1976 temporary exhibition, and permanent museum development
- Official exhibitions page for current Brooklyn galleries and selected-day exhibition status
- Official Grand Central Gallery page distinguishing the separate free Manhattan annex from Brooklyn museum admission
- Wikimedia Commons New York Transit Museum category and individual file pages for six rights-cleared photographs
