Deep in the belly of New York’s subway system, a beautiful untouched station resides that has been forgotten for years with only a limited few knowing of its existence. Stunning decoration with tall tiled arches, brass fixtures and skylights run across the entire curve of the station, almost a miniature imitation of Grand Central Station… But it sounds like something straight out of Harry Potter, right?
It was opened in 1904, with the hope of making it the crowning glory of the New York subway system in elegant architecture and a place for commemorative plaques to honour the work that had resulted in such a successful underground mass transit system. It was to be the original southern terminus of the first ‘Manhattan Main Line’; however the station was closed and boarded up in 1945. The gem of the underground began gathering dust, forgotten by the general public, as passengers were forced off at the Brooklyn Bridge Stop before the train continued on to the terminus to make its turnaround.
The reason for its closure was that newer longer cars were required to match the demand of passengers that passed through the system. But as the stations tracks were severely curved, a dangerous gap between the train doors and the platform was formed making it an unsafe area. This combined with the fact that only about 600 people used it, resulted in its closure with only mythical plans of turning it into a transit museum. But this was never followed through.
However, now you don’t have to take my word that the secret City Hall Station exists, as the 6 Train will now allow the passengers who have been enlightened with the knowledge of its whereabouts to stay on the train during its turnaround and see the Station. You won’t be able to get off, but you’ll be taken for a slow tour of the platform and see what a beauty it was in its heyday!
And if that isn’t enough, The Underbelly Project has turned it into a kind-of off-limits art gallery. They are a group of street artists who have painted the walls of the unattractive concrete areas with their art in a spooky art exhibition that will be witnessed only by urban explorers who prowl the deep train system at night and Metropolitan Transportation Authority workers.
Over a hundred murals have been accumulated over time by graffiti artists, namely PAC and Workhorse (infamous NYC graffitists), who discovered the bare walls and invited others to add their art.
But if you want to go and view these art works, you will most definitely run the high risk of being arrested as venturing the tunnels is both highly illegal and dangerous! I’ll just stick to seeing the photographs as I’m pretty sure my search for art would turn into a horror story down in the black tunnels… or I’d get hit by a train.
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Image 1 via Nag On The Lake, image 2 via Visual News, image 3 via gothamist, image 4 via 2nd Ave Sagas, image 5 via Chasing Ray, image 6 via Co.Designs, image 7 via Telstar Logistics, image 8 via Gizmodo, image 9, 10 and 11 via E-Junkie.
Sophie Saint was one of the original travelettes, from 2009 – 2017. After fleeing the UK with ink barely dry on her graduation certificate, she traversed the world with a backpack and spent a few years living in Melbourne – one of her favourite cities in the world.
She finally returned to the UK after a few years where she now whiles time away zipping off for European escapes, crocheting and daydreaming of owning her own hostel somewhere hot to live out eternal summers. See what she’s up to over on her blog saintsonaplane.com and instagram: @saintsonaplane
Definitely seeking this out next time I am in NYC! Awesome.
Over forty years back, when I commuted between downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn, I sometimes saw that station, as well as the old Worth Street Station. They were visible only briefly in the lights from the window as the trains passed by, but sometimes I had the eerie feeling of a time warp, of the bygone people bustling around in their present as we passed by unseen, a shadowy harbinger of the future, and I wondered if they ever perceived us in return.
Way cool. I'm an avid urban explorer an will look this up when in NYC.
Really cool and wonderful pictures... Very nice....
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http://www.adventuretravelshop.co.uk What a gem! We love the spooky art. Thanks for this.
Wow, wish I knew about this when I was out there a couple months.
The Transit Museum has tours of this station (which is, not surprisingly, located under City Hall). You can find more info at http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/programs.htm. It is a very popular tour, so popular it looks like it is only open to members these days. I've been a member and done this tour, among others and it is totally worth it.
REVOK !!
Nice to see a LA graff artist getting coverage in a article about NYC, lol
So a couple of questions scream to be answered: 1) From what fabulous source did these gorgeous pictures come from? 2) In times of economic slowdown, why aren't they charging admission to this 'museaum'!
Truly inspiring story of secrets beneath the hectic pace. Thanks for sharing this wonderful story (and visuals!).
HI, friends!
I 'conffess' I didn't know it even existed...
Amazing pics of 'hidden treasure'.
Mirna, from Brazil
Awesome Hidden treasure Pictures .. Thanks for sharing
This is really cool! I especially like street art that's been put down there. All kinda spooky, though! Thanks for sharing.
looks like where they filmed teenage mutant ninja turtles.
Is this where the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles live in the third movie!!
wow - this is really cool. Thanks for sharing
All thise pics are Photo Shopped. No Rats, No tents, No skeletons.
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How cool it i if it was not hidden from the people! :)
These murals look amazing. I bet this was the lair of the ninja turtles. I wish it would be open to public so that people would see and learn to appreciate mural art.
I love undergrounds. This looks so beautiful with all that glasswork. Government should consider making it a formal art gallery of sorts.
What a great photo essay of a place I know nothing of about! Thanks for the beautiful images and info... It's now on my to do list when I get back to New York :)
We would like to hear from anyone that has been in the subway and produce art on the walls. Bring your images to the community for us all to see. http://articlechase.com/beyondnews
Great photos of the underground - it looks like its been lost in a time warp! The graffiti artists are very talented too!
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Nice Sophie! Can you tell us if it's possible to visit this place?
Thanks
It looks a little similar to Bank tube station in London
WoW those are some awesome pictures. I love it. That is definitely a hidden gem. :)
Love stumbling upon these hidden gems!! Added to my list of things to see in nyc, next to the high line they converted into a park. Genius.
i love this post just got on when i was stumbling. Great
Some amazing shots its surprising how much beauty of buildings is hidden away from the general public.
Very fantastic is hidden away from the station.
Awesome subway station. It's a shame it was closed, and that more of them don't look like this.
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NOT VISIBLE! Be careful, as Eloise above commented, friends recently tried to view this (on the basis of this site) and 1) the train driver was quite reluctant to let them stay on for the turn around and 2) it was PITCH BLACK, no lights at all, so they saw virtually nothing. Dang.
Really gutted I didn't get to experience this - although I only had one day in New York and managed to fit in a ridiculous number of sights.
Just 1 wish to see this in true life. You have the great photos thats make me imagine thAT I TOUCH THE PLACE. :)
These photos have inspired me. I have long wanted to photograph the hidden world of office and residental lobbies. I will post my photos on my website (nypiedaterre.com). I will try to change monthly...stay tuned.
the graffity in the last photo was made by an israeli guy - he's tag name is Know Hope..
Hey, Great article and lovely photos - What an amazing hidden gem! I'm surprised someone hasn't created a tour or something of this station. Thanks for sharing - looks great!
WoW! Amazing pics (y) Thanks for sharing
well thanx for the sharing of snaps..its amazing,,,its very goood to travel in this type of subway stations..
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For what it's worth, the reason they didn't make the City Hall loop the transmit museum was that the IRT tracks are too narrow for the wider IND and BMT trains.
I had a friend who saw it years ago, he just got off the train and hopped back on after the conductor walked through. Nice to know you can now stay on.
There are other abandoned stations as well, e.g., the 91st station on the 7th Avenue line.
Grand pictures of something not well known! 'Surely inspired a lot of comments!
The cave paintings of New York...that's what future amazed anthropologists will call them.
That images are very bright and tell us something. But its more look like fake(compu grafics), I don't know why probability color is faded, seeing some shadow behind the images . Im not a professional artist but i know how to find errors in art. he he he...
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Oh my gosh I love these pictures! I love history, cool buildings, travel - that is certainly a sight to behold!