Spring - Summer 2008 Programs

EXHIBITIONS

April 22 – December 7, 2008
TOOLS OF THE TRADE
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn Heights

An anemometer, a ballast fork, a trolley ice scraper, a pneumatic drill, an opacity tester, an oxygen deficiency indicator, a TelAutograph telescriber, signal locks, fire nozzles, and a portable shunt – these are some of the tools used to build, operate, and maintain New York’s subway, bridges, tunnels, bus and rail systems. This exhibition shows how an obscure function can take on a fascinating form

Through July 6, 2008
A RAILROAD REBORN: METRO-NORTH AT 25
New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal

The creation of MTA Metro-North Railroad in 1983, when the MTA took over operations of Conrail, ushered in a new era in commuter travel.  Since then Metro-North has revitalized the railroad, updating rolling stock and lines, renovating historic stations – most notably Grand Central Terminal — and building new facilities. Through images and objects from the Museum collection and on loan from the railroad, this exhibit celebrates the 25th anniversary of Metro-North.

July 26 – November 2, 2008
WHAT’S NEW? COLLECTING AT THE NEW YORK TRANSIT MUSEUM
New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal

What do an 1860s model of a horse-drawn omnibus, a World War II air raid siren from an elevated subway station, and a set of “Dashing Dan” and “Dashing Dottie” cocktail glasses have in common? The museum has recently added these pieces and dozens of others to its collection. This exhibit explores some of the best and most unusual of the museum’s latest acquisitions, and the stories behind them.  

Through 2009
THE TRIBOROUGH BRIDGE: ROBERT MOSES AND THE AUTOMOBILE AGE
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn Heights

Examining the legacy of Robert Moses, this exhibition focuses on the Triborough Bridge, designed and built to connect three boroughs and accommodate New York’s burgeoning auto traffic.

Enjoy our illustrated family exhibit labels! Kid-friendly pictures and diagrams explain the operation and maintenance of bridges to our littlest engineers.

Through 2009
SHOW ME THE MONEY : FROM THE TURNSTILE TO THE BANK
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn Heights

Every day New Yorkers spend almost $9 million to ride city subways and buses. Ever wonder where that money goes? MTA New York City Transit (NYCT) is the nation’s largest transportation system, serving over 7 million customers each day. The path our fare travels from the turnstile to the bank weaves its way through an interconnected complex of people and machines. This exhibit examines what happens to your money after it leaves your wallet. 

SPECIAL EVENTS

Wednesday, May 21, 6 p.m.
CELEBRATING THE MTA’S  40th ANNIVERSARY: SUBWAY MOON
The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, The Great Hall, 7 East 7th Street at Third Avenue. No reservations required. Free admission.

“Subway Moon,” is a collection of stories inspired by the subway and told through music, image, and words by Roy Nathanson and "The Jazz Passengers," a group of high school students from New York’s Institute for Collaborative Education and visiting students from the suburbs of Paris. The Passengers’ part of the work was commissioned by Chamber Music America. The piece tells of a magical underground place where people from diverse age groups, backgrounds, and sensibilities can think and reflect. This is the last of a 4-part series. 

Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8, 1 to 6 p.m. (Museum: 1 to 5 p.m.)
ATLANTIC AVENUE ARTWALK 2008
Train lovers and art enthusiasts, this is for you! Discover local artists and the eclectic culture and character of Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn 's dynamic, historic thoroughfare, then present your ArtWalk pass to enjoy 2-for-1 admission to the New York Transit Museum, open from noon – 5 p.m. Kids can fashion a tile plaque depicting their neighborhood at our 1:30 p.m. children’s workshop. Visit http://www.atlanticavenueartwalk.com for additional information.

NOSTALGIA TRAIN RIDES
All aboard the Transit Museum's Nostalgia Special! Vintage cars offer a unique opportunity to ride back in time to favorite destinations throughout the city!
 
Reservations and advance payment required: $30, Museum members $25, children 3-17 $10 (Become a Museum member when you reserve and save $5 on your adult ticket!) 718-694-1867

Sunday, June 15, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
50 YEARS TO FAR ROCKAWAY   
  
Celebrating 50 years of service to Far Rockaway, R1/9 vintage trains travel from midtown Manhattan to Queens Plaza. At the next stop, at the New York Transit Museum, passengers can enjoy exhibits and visit the Museum store, before proceeding to Rockaway Park. Relax and enjoy an extended lunch or stay on the train for a trip to Rockaway Avenue. At 4 p.m. the train leaves Rockaway Park via the A line to Jay Street, and the F line to 42nd Street for the conclusion of our trip.

Sunday, July 13, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
CONEY ISLAND BOUND !

Our Coney Island Nostalgia Train, consisting of vintage R1/9 cars, departs midtown Manhattan forNew York City’s famous resort. Visit the amusement park, take a dip in the ocean, and enjoy all the area has to offer, or stay on the train for an additional ride to Whitehall Street in Manhattan. The train will then proceed back to Coney Island.  At 4 p.m. the train leaves Coney Island, via the F line, to 42nd Street - our final destination.

Saturday, August 2, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
MULTI-ANNIVERSARY TOUR OF THE IRT

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of service to 242nd Street-Van Cortlandt Park, we’ll take the “Train of Many Colors” (post WW-II IRT “SMEE” cars in a rainbow of colors) from Grand Central to Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn, then North to Van Cortland Park in the Bronx. Enjoy the park or stay on the train for an express run to 103rd Street. At 3 p.m. we head down to 96th Street and back up, via the 2 line to Jackson Ave, before returning to Grand Central, our final destination.

TOURS

Unless otherwise noted, reservations and advance payment are required: 718-694-1867.
Most of these tours are not appropriate for young children or babies in strollers.

Please note: Events are subject to change without notice. In case of a program cancellation, the Museum will make refunds in the form of a voucher good for the dollar amount paid. Vouchers are valid for one year and can be redeemed for any other Transit Museum scheduled program. Vouchers cannot be used for Museum admission or for purchases in the Museum stores.

A RAILROAD REBORN: METRO-NORTH AT 25
The following tour is offered in conjunction with the Museum’s current exhibition at the Museum’s Gallery Annex in Grand Central Terminal

Wednesday, May 14, Noon to 2 p.m.
Wednesday, May 28, Noon to 2 p.m.
THE SEVEN SECRETS TOUR OF GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
$20, Museum members $15, Children (5 – 17) $10

Join us for this special “insiders” tour of Grand Central Terminal. Metro-North’s Dan Brucker, the acclaimed spokesman for The History Channel’s “Underground Mysteries” and go-to source for transit trivia will share secrets that astonish you! Grand Central’s 700,000 daily visitors have never been to the places you’ll see in this top-to-bottom tour. Highlights include a hidden "war room," the Lost and Found Department, and the Operations Control Center, working in high gear to keep Terminal traffic on track and on time.

Saturday, May 17, 8:15 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
JOHN BULL LOCOMOTIVE REPLICA DEDICATION DAY IN HICKSVILLE
$35, Museum members $30, Children (5–17) $15

All aboard for a day-long outing to celebrate a remarkable chapter of railroad history in Hicksville, Long Island. Acquired by the Smithsonian in 1884 the 1831 English-made John Bull locomotive served on one of the United States' early railroads, the Camden and Amboy, and subsequently influenced the design for Ariel, the famed first locomotive of the Long Island Railroad, built in 1835. Thanks to the tireless efforts of Jim Pavone, president of the Hicksville Chamber of Commerce, we can now celebrate the dedication of a full-size replica of the John Bull at Kennedy Memorial Park, followed by a visit to the Gregory Museum’s own steam locomotives and a railroad symposium. Lunch will be provided.

Saturday, June 14, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
A BRONX TALE OF PARKS, SUBWAYS AND BUSES
$20, Museum members $15, Children (5–17) $10

The Bronx is New York City’s only borough on the North American mainland, the only borough with “The” in its name, and the only borough with 24 percent of its land set aside for public parks. This year celebrates two significant milestones in transit history. The subway’s original “Contract One” route was completed a century ago, in 1908, bringing service to Van Cortlandt Park. Forty years later, in 1948, the last streetcars took a spin in this borough, as buses permanently took their place. On this tour, we’ll ride the 1 train from mid-Manhattan to 242nd Street, visit with park rangers, see an abandoned New York Central railroad station, and follow two bus routes that encapsulate the history of local surface transportation. We suggest bringing a picnic lunch for the park. You will need your MetroCard for bus transfers.

Saturday, July 19, Noon to1 p.m. and  2 to 3 p.m.
THE JEWEL IN THE CROWN: OLD CITY HALL STATION
Reservations and advance payment required. Capacity is limited so book early: Adults $20; Children $10. No strollers. 718-694-1867. Valid current membership required. Become a member of the Museum and join these exclusive tours of the original IRT City Hall Station.

Travel back in time to the early days of the subway! The starting point of New York City's new IRT subway was a jewel of a station, with chandeliers, leaded skylights, a vaulted Guastavino ceiling, and decorative tile work. Opened in 1904, the station exemplified the spirit of the City Beautiful Movement.

TOOLS OF THE TRADE
The following tours are offered in conjunction with the exhibition currently on view at the Museum, in Brooklyn Heights.

Saturday, July 26, 10 a.m. to 2p.m.
BERGEN STREET SIGN SHOP
$25, Museum members $20, Children (5–17) $10

Visit New York City Transit’s premiere stop for sign production, the Bergen Street Sign Shop, and learn about its fascinating history. Opened sixty years ago to service 122 trolley coaches (trackless trolleys) and renovated when trolley coach service ended in Brooklyn in 1960, the building was redesigned to service trucks and other work vehicles and to house the Sign Shop, Tin Shop, and Carpentry Shop.

Tuesday, August 19, 6 to 8:30 p.m.
CONEY ISLAND YARD
$25, Museum members $20, Children (5–17) $10

The Coney Island Overhaul Shop is one of the world’s largest subway overhaul and repair facilities. This sprawling Brooklyn complex includes cranes that can lift entire subway cars, a paint shop, state-of-the-art brake and wheel repair equipment, and an impressive tower that monitors the movement of trains throughout the yard. Mike Hanna, retired superintendent of the NYC Transit Division of Car Equipment and restorer of vintage trains, will lead this tour. Please note that sneakers are not allowed.

Sunday, August 10, 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
EAST 180TH STREET YARD/SHOP
$25, Museum members $20, Children (5–17) $10. No strollers allowed.

Built in the 1920s, the East 180th Street Maintenance Shop was once the largest in the IRT system. The shop was completely refurbished in the late 1990s to maintain a new generation of subway cars. Superintendent Joe Tassiello will lead a tour describing the high-tech tools and state-of-the-art procedures that carefully test car equipment and operation during inspection. See how “in service” conditions are created, and how wheel shape, temperature controls, and conductivity are weighed and measured. The tour involves climbing stairs. Participants should wear comfortable shoes and fitted clothing, and are welcome to bring lunch to eat onsite.

MEMBER DISCOUNT
The best way to enjoy the New York Transit Museum is through the benefits of membership. Members help the Museum bring the rich history of public transportation in the world's greatest city to audiences everywhere. Members gain free or discounted access to Museum exhibits, tours, programs, and special events for one year, and receive advance notice of all Museum activities.

Become a Museum member when making your tour reservations and pay the Members fee. Apply online at http://mta.info/mta/museum/index.html#membership.

To become a member over the phone or for additional information please call 718-694-3451.

LECTURES & SCREENINGS

Unless otherwise noted, these events are held at the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights at 2 p.m. and are free with paid Museum admission.

Wednesday, June 11, 6 p.m.
ENGINEERING EAST SIDE ACCESS                
Commuters coming into Penn Station on the West Side have long hoped for easier access to their East Side jobs. When completed the East Side Access Project will bring the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) into Grand Central Terminal, serving approximately 160,000 customers a day. In conjunction with the exhibition Tools of the Trade, Alan Paskoff of MTA Capital Construction will discuss the tools best suited to construction conditions, tunnel boring machines working to link Grand Central Terminal to the existing 63rd Street Tunnel and LIRR facilities in Long Island City.

FILM CORNER

Please join us in the Museum's screening room for special films screened on a continual basis daily unless other programs are planned.

May & June
AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: GRAND CENTRAL TERMINAL
This newly released one-hour film produced by American Experience tells the dramatic story of the famous landmark's construction through interviews with historians, architects, and engineers, while weaving in contemporary portraits from present day New Yorkers who describe their personal connections to Grand Central. This screening is offered in honor of Metro-North Railroad’s 25th anniversary.

July & August
TRANSIT TRANSIT NEWS MAGAZINE: EAST SIDE ACCESS - TOOLS FOR TUNNEL ENGINEERING
The original 63rd Street Tunnel built by New York City Transit was the city’s first successful use of tunnel boring machine (TBM) technology. Witness a TBM excavating and lining new tunnels for the East Side Access project. When completed, the project’s seven new route miles will connect Grand Central Terminal to the original tunnel and Long Island Rail Road facilities in Long Island City. 

Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6                       
SPECIAL: July 4th Weekend!
SPEEDY (1928) NR
The great Harold Lloyd plays Harold “Speedy” Swift, a baseball-crazy cabbie who tries his best to protect the last trolley business in the city, owned by his sweetheart’s family. Lloyd ‘s adventures continue; while trying his hand as a taxi driver, his good fortune brings him   passenger Babe Ruth (playing himself) en route to Yankee Stadium!

CHILDREN'S PROGRAMS

Unless otherwise noted, programs are held at the Transit Museum’s Sanford Gaster Education Center in Brooklyn Heights every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. (NEW TIME) and are free with paid Museum admission. Events are subject to change without notice. For a complete listing of children’s programs and other online activities visit our education community website, www.mta.info; click on Transit Museum and select Education Station or call 718-694-1792.

Program highlights include:

JULY

Saturday and Sunday, July 5 and 6
BRIDGE CITY: TRUSS BRIDGES
We’ll demonstrate the importance of the triangle shape in the construction of bridges in the exhibition The Triborough Bridge: Robert Moses and the Automobile Age, and then build our own simple truss bridges. Suggested for ages 5+.

Saturday and Sunday, July 12 and 13
MEET THE ARTIST: STACY CUSHMAN
Ceramic artist Stacey Cushman will demonstrate some of her technique and help us create our own elaborate ceramic plaques to tell a tale of our neighborhoods. Suggested for ages 5+.

Saturday and Sunday, July 19 and 20
RED BIRD REEF PAINTING
Did you know that the retired Red Bird subway cars took a dive into the Atlantic Ocean to form a new home for fish? Dive in to this fun program and paint your own vibrant scene of an underwater world. Suggested for ages 4+.

Saturday and Sunday, July 26 and 27
TRANSIT PRINTS
Signs and symbols on buses and subways help guide us around the city safely and swiftly. We’ll take a look at signs on display at the Museum and then use a printmaking process to create our own. Suggested for ages 5+.
 

AUGUST

Saturday and Sunday, August 2 and 3
DESIGN A VEHICLE
Use spinning wheels and fun parts to make your own vehicles that move. Suggested for ages 4+.

Saturday and Sunday, August 9 and 10    1 p.m.
MUSIC UNDER NEW YORK: LENNY HOOPS
Get down with the sound of MTA Arts for Transit Music Under New York performer Lenny Hoops in an encore performance! Lenny will get us moving with hula hoop fun and joyous, soulful percussion. Suggested for all ages.

Saturday and Sunday, August 16 and 17
FARE GAME
Be a fare collection agent for a day by helping our “money train” collect fares on a route through the Museum. In our Show Me the Money exhibit, we’ll learn more about the trip money takes when people pay for their subway rides. Suggested for ages 4+.

Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24
CREATE A CITY
Working together, we’ll design an urban landscape and create a city with streets, buildings, subways and buses! Suggested for ages 4+.

Saturday and Sunday, August 30 and 31
MILES OF TILES
Discover the art of mosaic making used to beautify our subway stations as you create unique patterns and designs with glass tile. Suggested for ages 4+.

On going:

Thursdays at 1 p.m.
WEEKLY PRESCHOOL TIME
Join us as we bring the Museum to life with transportation stories and a special tour for our youngest transit fans. All aboard! Suggested for ages 2-5.

Saturday, July 26 and Saturday, August 16  2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
PHOTOSTORIES
Space is limited. Advance registration is recommended: please call 718.694.1792.

Tell your own transportation story using PhotoStory software, digital photography, and your personal tales of travel in the city. We’ll work together in Museum exhibits and the Technology Lab to produce a fun, digital slideshow project to take home on a data disc. Suggested for ages 7+.

Saturdays and Sundays, July 19 & 20 and August 23 & 24        2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
HANDS-ON HISTORY
Stop by the Hands-On History cart on the Museum’s platform level and have a try at identifying items from the Museum's collection. Then we will help you explore controls, machine parts and various tools of trains past and present. Suggested for all ages.