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The New-York Historical Society's Subway Construction Photograph Collection, 1900-1950, includes over 71,000 photographs taken by various New York City transportation agencies during the construction of the New York City subways. The Board of Rapid Transit, the Public Service Commission, and their successors photographed construction of the subway and its surface extensions in Manhattan, the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Queens in a succession of contracts: Contracts One and Two were awarded to what later became the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT); Contract Three was also awarded to the IRT, and Contract Four was awarded to what became the Brooklyn Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT); Contracts Three and Four were known as the Dual Contracts; additional lines were subsequently built by the Independent City-Owned Rapid Transit Railroad (IND). The photographs were primarily taken for insurance purposes in the event that buildings shown would be damaged during construction. The photographs depict the streets as they appeared before construction began as well as actual construction shots. The digitization of the Subway Construction Photograph Collection was made possible by generous grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.
NYHS Identifier
Print Room - PR-069
Genre
Owning Institution
Publisher
Subject (Topical)
Subject (Name)
Subject (Geographic)
Contributor
Date Created
1900 to 1950
Extent
approximately 71
250 photographs
Subcollections
45 subcollections
The 2,992 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 101 photographs show construction on the Eighth Avenue Line (the A train and C train) from Greenwich Village south to Fulton Street in Manhattan, and into Brooklyn via the Cranberry Street Tunnel under the East River. The route covers the following sections: Section 5, Greenwich Avenue from Seventh Avenue and West 11th Street to Sixth Avenue; Section 4, Sixth Avenue from West 9th Street to…
The 1,293 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 102 photographs show the construction of a portion of the Eighth Avenue Line in Manhattan (the A train and C train) from Bank Street and Greenwich Avenue to West 59th Street and Columbus Circle, and from West 60th Street and Central Park West to West 68th Street. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, from Greenwich Avenue and Bank Street to Eighth Avenue and West 18th…
The 1,845 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 103 photographs show construction of portions of the Sixth Avenue Line (the B train, D train, F train and M train) and the Culver Line (the F train) from Manhattan into Brooklyn via the Rutgers Street tunnel under the East River. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Houston Street from Sixth Avenue to Mott Street; Section 2, Houston Street from Elizabeth Street to Ludlow…
The 954 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 104 photographs show the construction of a portion of the Queens Boulevard Line (the E train and F train) from Eighth Avenue and 53rd Street in Manhattan to Long Island City in Queens via the 53rd Street Tunnel. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, West 53rd Street from Eighth Avenue to Sixth Avenue; Section 2, East 53rd Street from Fifth Avenue to Third Avenue; Section 3, from Second…
The 698 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 105 photographs show construction of the Eighth Avenue Line to Inwood in Manhattan (the A train). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Fort Washington Avenue to Dyckman Street; Section 2, Broadway from Dyckman Street to 215th Street; and Section 3, West 207th Street from Vermilyea Avenue to Post Avenue. The series includes many views of the 207th Street Yard by the Harlem…
The 2,315 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 106 photographs show construction of the Concourse Line (the B train and D train) from West 155th Street in Manhattan to East 205th Street in the Bronx. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, St. Nicholas Place from West 150th Street to West 155th Street in Manhattan, across the Harlem River via the Concourse Tunnel into the Bronx, then following 161st Street to Jerome Avenue;…
The 4,637 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 107 photographs show construction of the Crosstown Line (the G train) from Smith Street in Brooklyn to Court Square in Queens. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 5, Schermerhorn Street from Smith Street to near Flatbush Avenue; Section 6, Schermerhorn Street and Lafayette Avenue through the area around the Brooklyn Academy of Music to South Portland Avenue; Section 8,…
The 4,468 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 108 photographs show construction of the Queens Boulevard Line (the E train, F train and M train) from Jackson Avenue to 169th Street in Queens. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Jackson Avenue and 44th Drive to Northern Boulevard and 37th Street; Section 2, Northern Boulevard from 37th Street to 53rd Street, Steinway Street between Northern Boulevard and Broadway, and Broadway…
The 3,626 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 109 photographs show construction of a portion of the Culver Line (the F train and G train) from Jay Street to Church Avenue in Brooklyn. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Jay Street from Nassau Street to Willoughby Street; Section 2, Jay Street from Willoughby Street to Fulton Street, and Smith Street from Fulton Street to Baltic Street; Section 2A, Smith Street from Baltic…
The 2,853 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 110 photographs show construction of the Fulton Street Line from Fulton Street and Lafayette Avenue to Rockaway Avenue in Brooklyn (the A train and C train). The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Fulton Street from Lafayette Avenue to Washington Avenue; Section 2, Fulton Street from Washington Avenue to Nostrand Avenue; Section 3, Fulton Street from Nostrand Avenue to Troy Avenue;…
The 198 Contract Four, Manhattan Bridge Extension photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of the Manhattan Bridge Branch of the Fourth Avenue Line along Flatbush Avenue in Brooklyn (the N train and Q train), including the former Myrtle Avenue Station, which was also known as the Gold Street Station.
The 2,860 Contract Four, Route 11 photographs show the construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Fourth Avenue Line from Flatbush Avenue to 95th street in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn (the N train and R train). The route covers the following sections: Section AE-1, Lafayette Avenue and Ashland Place, showing the area around the Brooklyn Academy of Music; Section A-1, Atlantic Avenue and Fourth Avenue to…
The 147 Contract Four, Route 20, Section 2 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Broadway Line (the N train) on Canal Street from Broadway to the Bowery in Manhattan. Many of the images show the busy commercial district along the north and south sides of Canal Street.
The 1,816 Contract Four, Route 33 photographs show the construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of the continuation of the Broadway Line from Manhattan into Brooklyn via the Montague Street Tunnel (the R train), connecting to the Fourth Avenue Line in Brooklyn. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, from Trinity Place and Morris Street to Broadway and Bowling Green, and along Whitehall Street to South…
The 566 Contract Four, Route 39 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of the West End Line extension of the Fourth Avenue Line in Brooklyn from around 36th Street to Coney Island (the D train). The connection from the Fourth Avenue Line required the reconstruction of a portion of the line between 33rd Street and 38th Street. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Fourth Avenue from 33rd…
The 1,583 Contract Four, Route 4 & 36 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Broadway Line in Manhattan (the N train, Q train, R train, and W train) from Union Square to the 60th Street Tunnel under the East River. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Broadway from Union Square to West 26th-27th Street; Section 2, Broadway from West 26th-27th Street to…
The 768 Contract Four, Route 45 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Nassau Street-Jamaica Line from South Street to Park Row in Manhattan (the J and Z). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, from Nassau Street and Liberty Street to Park Row near the Municipal Building and the Brooklyn Bridge elevated station; and Section 2, from Broad Street and South Street…
The 377 Contract Four, Route 49 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of the Culver Line from around Tenth Avenue and 37th Street along Gravesend Avenue (now McDonald Avenue) to Coney Island in Brooklyn (the F train). The route covers the following sections: Section 1-A, from west of Tenth Avenue between 37th Street and 38th Street to a point east of Tenth Avenue; Section 1, from east of Tenth Avenue…
The 1,333 Contract Four, Route 5, Sections 1-5 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn–Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Broadway Line (the N train, Q train, R train, and W train) from Morris Street to Union Square in Manhattan. Most of the photographs are views along Trinity Place, Church Street, and Broadway from Vesey Street to Union Square. They include the Trinity Church and St. Paul's Chapel churchyards,…
The 545 Contract Four, Route 61 photographs show construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of the 60th Street Tunnel under the East River alongside the Queensboro Bridge, connecting the Broadway Line in Manhattan with Queensboro Plaza Station in Queens (the N train and W train). There are views of East 60th Street between Second Avenue and Avenue A (Sutton Place) in Manhattan, along with many images of the Queensboro…
The 4,056 Contract Four, Route 8 photographs show the construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Canarsie Line (sometimes referred to as the 14th Street–Eastern Line) from Manhattan into Brooklyn and Queens (the L train). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1A, West 14th Street from Eighth Avenue to Sixth Avenue; Section 1, 14th Street from Sixth Avenue to Irving Place; Section 2…
The 1,606 Contract Four, Route 9-0 photographs show the construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Nassau Street Line (the J train and Z train) from Chambers Street to Essex Street. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Centre Street from Chambers Street to Duane Street; Section 2, Centre Street from Duane Street to Canal Street; Section 3, from Grand Street to Broome Street; Section 4,…
The 574 Contract Four, Route 9-C-1 photographs show the construction by the Brooklyn-Manhattan Transit Corporation (BMT) of a portion of the Fourth Avenue Line (the N train and R train) in Brooklyn from Willoughby Street to Ashland Place along Flatbush Avenue and Fulton Street.
The 4,744 Contract One photographs show the earliest subway construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), including portions of the Lexington Avenue Line (the 4 train, 5 train, and 6 train); the 42nd Street Shuttle; the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (the 1 train, 2 train, and 3 train); the Lenox Avenue Line (the 2 train and 3 train); and the West Farms Division of the White Plains Road Line (the 2 train and 5 train). Most…
The 175 Contract Three, 148th Street Yard photographs show the expansion by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Lenox Avenue Shops, now known as the Lenox Yard, near West 148th Street and Lenox Avenue in Harlem.
The 1,594 Contract Three, Route 12 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Eastern Parkway Line from Downtown Brooklyn along Flatbush Avenue and Eastern Parkway to Crown Heights (the 2 train, 3 train and 4 train). The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Flatbush Avenue from Atlantic Avenue to St. Marks Avenue; Section 1A, Flatbush Avenue from Park Place to Eighth Avenue; Section 1B, the…
The 634 Contract Three, Route 16 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the elevated Jerome Avenue Line (the 4 train) from around East 157th Street north to Woodlawn in the Bronx. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, River Avenue and East 157th Street to Jerome Avenue and East 182nd Street; Section 2, Jerome Avenue from East 182nd Street to Bainbridge Avenue. The photographs…
The 542 Contract Three, Route 18 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the White Plains Road Line (the 4 train and 5 train) in the Bronx from around East 179th Street to Wakefield-East 241st Street. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, from East 179th Street and Boston Road to Burke Avenue and White Plains Road, including the 180th Street Yard; Section 2, White Plains Road from Burke…
The 1,486 Contract Three, Route 19-22 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Pelham Line (the 6 train) in the Bronx from East 138th Street and Third Avenue to Pelham Bay Park. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, East 138th and Third Avenue to East 149th Street and Southern Boulevard; Section 1A, East 149th Street and Southern Boulevard to Whitlock Avenue; Section 2,…
The 129 Contract Three, Route 26 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of a portion of the Flushing Line from Grand Central in Manhattan to Vernon Boulevard-Jackson Avenue in Long Island City, Queens (the 7 train). Some of the photographs show the construction of the Steinway Tunnel. Other photographs include views in Queens along 4th Street (now 50th Avenue) and Vernon Avenue (Vernon Boulevard),…
The 40 Contract Three, Route 27 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) in the vicinity of Mott Avenue Station in the Bronx (the modern 149th Street-Grand Concourse Station on the 2 train and 5 train). There are above ground views along East 149th Street, Mott Avenue, Walton Avenue, and Spencer Place, as well as many underground views, some showing the Mott Avenue Station under construction or completed.
The 1,143 Contract Three, Route 29 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Nostrand Avenue Branch of the Brooklyn Line between Crown Heights and Flatbush, Brooklyn (the 2 train and 5 train). The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Nostrand Avenue from Eastern Parkway to Church Avenue; Section 2, Nostrand Avenue from Church Avenue to Flatbush Avenue. Views include the residential and…
The 451 Contract Three, Route 31 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the New Lots Line or Livonia Avenue Line (the 3 train) in Brooklyn. The line runs from East 98th Street and Sutter Avenue to Livonia Avenue and New Lots Avenue. Most views are of the Livonia Avenue commercial district between Howard Avenue and Van Siclen Avenue in Brownsville, a Jewish neighborhood with many shop signs written in…
The 418 Route 35 & 67 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of a portion of the Flushing Line (the 7 train) from Grand Central Terminal to Times Square. The photographs follow 42nd Street from Grand Central to Bryant Park and Sixth Avenue, and West 41st Street from Sixth Avenue to Eighth Avenue. There are many views of the New York Public Library, Bryant Park, and theaters on West 41st Street. The…
The 371 Contract Three, Route 36 & 37 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of a portion of the Flushing Line (the 7 train) in Queens from Queensboro Plaza to Alburtis Avenue (now the 103rd Street-Corona Plaza Station), as well as construction along the N line from Queensboro Plaza to Ditmars Boulevard in Astoria.
The 3,496 Contract Three, Route 4 & 38 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line from Times Square to Chambers Street (the 1 train, 2 train, and 3 train) and from Chambers Street to South Ferry in Manhattan (the 1 train). The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Greenwich Street from Battery Park to Vesey Street; Section 2, West Broadway and…
The 559 Contract Three, Route 43 photographs show construction of a new tunnel by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) to connect the first portion of the Lexington Avenue Line (the 4 train, 5 train and 6 train) that ran from City Hall to East 42nd Street to its extension north of 42nd Street along Lexington Avenue. Many of the photographs show views along Park Avenue from East 34th Street to East 42nd Street, including excavation work…
The 1,809 Contract Three, Route 48 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Brooklyn Branch of the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line (the 2 train and 3 train) from Park Place in Manhattan to Clark Street and Borough Hall in Brooklyn. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Park Place under City Hall Park and along Beekman Street to William Street; Section 2, William Street to Hanover Square;…
The 4,631 Contract Three, Route 5, Sections 6-15 photographs show the construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the Lexington Avenue Line (the 4 train, 5 train, and 6 train) from East 26th street to East 132nd street in Manhattan, crossing the Harlem River via the Lexington Avenue Tunnel to East 138th Street and Alexander Avenue (the 6) and East 157th Street and River Avenue (the 4 and 5) in the Bronx. The route covers…
The 135 Contract Three, Route 50 photographs show the completion of the Steinway Tunnel and the construction of elevated tracks to the Hunters Point Avenue Station on a portion of the Flushing Line in Queens (the 7 train) by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT). There are many views of Ely Avenue, Van Alst Avenue, and 4th Street in Queens. A series of photographs of buildings on Nott Avenue, Davis Street, and Ely Avenue relate to…
The 340 Contract Three, Route 52 photographs show construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) of the portion of the Flushing Line (the 7 train) along Roosevelt Avenue in Queens from Alburtis Avenue (now the 103rd Street-Corona Plaza Station) to Main Street, Flushing. The route is divided into the following sections: Section 1, Roosevelt Avenue in Corona; Section 2, the Willets Point Boulevard Station; Section 2-3, Flushing…
The 2,869 Contract Two photographs show the continuation of subway construction by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT), connecting City Hall on the Lexington Avenue Line in Manhattan to Atlantic Avenue on the Eastern Parkway Line in Brooklyn via the Joralemon Street Tunnel under the East River (the 4 train and 5 train). There are many photographs of buildings along Joralemon Street in Brooklyn Heights. Other photographs show the…
The 2,787 Independent Subway System (IND) Route 78 photographs show the construction of the Eighth Avenue Line (the A train and C train) from West 68th Street and Central Park West to West 192nd Street in Manhattan. The route covers the following sections: Section 1, Central Park West from West 68th Street to West 78th Street; Section 1A, West 78th Street to West 89th Street; Section 2, West 89th Street to West 101st Street; Section 2A,…
The 668 miscellaneous photographs include those that are not identified by a specific contract or route number. Many photographs relate to construction on subway lines, including the BMT Brighton Line, BMT Myrtle Avenue Line, BMT Sea Beach Line, and BMT Jamaica Line, not otherwise represented in the Subway Construction Photograph Collection. Other photographs show construction of elevated railroads including the Third Avenue El and the Ninth…
This is a selection of 91 images from the Subway Construction Photograph Collection, 1900 to 1950, which includes over 71,000 photographs taken by various New York City transportation agencies during the construction of the New York City underground subways.
