This Abandoned NYC Subway Station Still Has Its Original 1904 Chandeliers, Vaulted Arches & Tiffany Skylights

Old City Hall Station, New York

Below City Hall, New York’s most beautiful subway station sits frozen in 1945. The Old City Hall Station, with its brass chandeliers and soaring green glass tiles, was the crown jewel of NYC’s first subway line, complete with Guastavino vaulted ceilings and skylight.

Here are some interesting facts about this elegant time capsule very few people have ever seen.

The Coolest Subway Station You’ve Never Seen

Old City Hall Station was the starting point of New York City’s first subway line, built by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company. It sits under City Hall Park in Lower Manhattan and ran from 1904 to 1945.

Unlike regular subway stops, this one had tall tile arches, brass fixtures, and skylights running along its curved path—basically a mini Grand Central Station. The station was designed by George Lewis Heins and Christopher Grant LaFarge, who also created the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.

Though the 6 train still uses its track as a turnaround, no trains stop here anymore.

When a Subway Ride Cost Just a Nickel

The first NYC subway started running on October 27, 1904, operated by the Interborough Rapid Transit system. The first train left from City Hall Station and went to Grand Central, through Times Square, and up to 145th Street.

A subway ticket cost only five cents back then. Some people were so thrilled by this new way to travel that they spent whole evenings riding from 145th Street to City Hall and back, just enjoying the underground experience.

The Ceiling Tiles That Changed Architecture

Old City Hall Station has incredible arched ceilings made by master craftsman Rafael Guastavino. He was famous for his unique tile arch system that was both strong and beautiful.

Guastavino’s patented ‘vaulted tile ceiling technique’ changed architecture, and you can find his work in over 1,000 places across America. The station’s tiles include colored glass that creates stunning visual effects.

These tiles form an intricate herringbone pattern, showing the amazing craftsmanship that went into building the station.

Sunlight in the Underground

Old City Hall Station has clever skylights that let daylight filter down into the underground space. These skylights run along the station’s entire curve, which was unusual for an underground transit stop.

Years after the station closed, the skylights were reopened, bringing natural light back to this historic space. Using natural light underground was revolutionary for the time and made subway rides more pleasant.

Why This Gorgeous Station Had to Close

Despite its beauty and history, Old City Hall Station shut down in 1945 because it couldn’t handle longer modern subway trains. Another problem was its awkward layout for passengers.

If you got on at City Hall heading to Brooklyn or stops below, you’d end up on the uptown platform at Brooklyn Bridge station. Then you’d have to go upstairs and back down to the downtown platform to keep going. It was easier to just walk to Brooklyn Bridge station at street level.

The Secret Way to See the Station Without a Ticket

Today, the 6 train still uses the loop at Old City Hall to turn around, giving you a quick glimpse of the abandoned station. Want to see it without an official tour? Just ride a downtown 6 local train past its last stop (Brooklyn Bridge-City Hall) and look out as the train loops around.

Before the late 1990s, you had to get off at Brooklyn Bridge, but now you can stay on. You’ll see the station’s features briefly, though the view is quick and sometimes dim. For the best view, try to ride when the Transit Museum is doing a tour, as they’ll have the lights on.

Chandeliers in a Subway Station

Old City Hall Station has fancy brass and wrought iron chandeliers that once lit the space with a warm glow. You’ll also find intricate skylights, oak furnishings, white terra cotta, and decorative plaques showing incredible attention to detail.

The chandeliers were custom-made and show the best craftsmanship of the early 1900s. With no straight lines, just curved entryways and vaulted ceilings, the station had a delicate beauty unlike any other subway stop.

The Subway’s Trophy Room

Because Old City Hall Station was so elegant, it was chosen to display the commemorative plaques celebrating the huge achievement of building NYC’s underground train system.

These plaques are still there, showing how proud the city was of its groundbreaking transportation system. The plaques honor key people who made the subway possible, including engineers, politicians, and financiers.

The Subway Before the Subway

Tours of Old City Hall Station start above ground with the story of Alfred Beach’s Pneumatic Tube. This early try at underground transit came before the subway system and is a key part of New York’s transportation history.

Alfred Beach, who edited Scientific American, secretly built a pneumatic subway demo in 1870 under Broadway near City Hall. Beach’s tube used air pressure to push a car through a tunnel, an innovative idea ahead of its time.

While Beach’s project never grew beyond its demo, it planted the seeds for future underground transit in New York City.

Tour Spots Are Harder to Get Than Taylor Swift Tickets

The Old City Hall Station tour from the New York Transit Museum is one of the hottest tickets in NYC, selling out within minutes. To get a spot, you need good internet, determination, and a museum membership.

Tours are scheduled and tickets are released only three times a year: January, April, and August. The next batch of tours go on sale to members in January 2025, costing $50 per person.

To snag tickets, set a calendar alert for when they go live and be ready online—they can sell out in just 10 minutes.

Visiting Old City Hall Station

You can only visit Old City Hall Station if you’re a member of the New York Transit Museum. Tours last about 90 minutes and start with a history walk above ground before heading into the station.

Tickets cost $50 per person, and how many you can buy depends on your membership level.

To get tickets: first become a museum member (individual memberships cost $65), then set an alert for when tickets go on sale in January, April, or August.

After buying your ticket, you must send a copy of your ID and sign a release form within 48 hours.

Tours happen rain or shine and you’ll need to walk, stand, and climb stairs. There are no bathrooms, and kids must be at least 10 years old.