Hidden beneath the streets of New York City is a stunning 120-year-old train station that has been closed to the public for decades. With its vaulted tile ceilings, brass chandeliers, and intricate skylights, the City Hall Station was once the crown jewel of the city’s subway system.
Today, it is abandoned but still very well-preserved, making it one of the most fascinating hidden landmarks in the world’s richest city. Built as part of New York’s first-ever subway line, the station opened in 1904 and served as the original southern terminal of what is now the Lexington Avenue Line.
It was designed to be a showpiece of a constantly growing city and its curved platform, Guastavino tiles, and leaded glass skylights set it apart from every other stop on the system.
The Romanesque Revival-style station was designed by Rafael Guastavino, the same architect behind the famous tiled ceilings at the Grand Central Terminal.
However, despite its beauty and intricate design, City Hall Station was doomed from the start. The curved platform, originally designed for five-car trains, quickly became impractical as subway popularity grew.
By the 1940s, New York was using longer trains, and the station’s tight curve made it impossible to extend the platform.
With the much busier Brooklyn Bridge Station just 600 feet away, City Hall Station was eventually closed on December 31, 1945.
Although abandoned, the station is not entirely forgotten. The track that loops through it is still in use today and serves as a turnaround point for the 6 train.
Passengers who stay on the train past Brooklyn Bridge can also catch a brief glimpse of the station’s arched ceilings and tiled walls as they pass through.
For those who want a closer look, the New York Transit Museum occasionally offers guided tours of the station.
These tours allow visitors to walk through the platform, admire the intricate tilework, and stand beneath the huge chandeliers, just as commuters did over a century ago.
However, tickets are limited, and only museum members can purchase them, with prices starting at $50 per person.
The station’s beautiful design has made it one of New York’s most famous abandoned attractions.
It has been featured in movies, including Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and even acted as an inspiration for the underground lair in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
In 2009, Travel + Leisure ranked it one of the most beautiful subway stations in the world.
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