NY Transit Museum Announce Their April 2010 Calendar of Events

The New York Transit Museum, one of the city's leading cultural institutions is the largest museum in the United States devoted to urban public transportation history, and one of the premier institutions of its kind in the world. The Museum explores the development of the greater New York Metropolitan region through the presentations of exhibitions, tours, educational programs, and workshops dealing with the cultural, social, and technological history of public transportation. Since it's inception over a quarter century ago, the Museum, housed in a historic 1936 IND subway station in Brooklyn Heights, has grown in scope and popularity. As custodian and interpreter of the region's extensive public transportation networks, the Museum strives to share, through its public programs, this rich and vibrant history with local, regional, and international audiences.

New York Transit Museum releases their April 2010 Calendar of Events

April 2010

Through June 6, 2010 (New Close Date)
LAST DAY OF THE MYRTLE AVENUE EL: PHOTOGRAPHS BY THERESA KING
New York Transit Museum, Brooklyn Heights, Art Gallery Space
At midnight on October 3, 1969 the last train on the Myrtle Avenue El departed Borough Hall. After 80 years of service the line would be demolished. Photographer Theresa King, who rode the train daily in her childhood, spent the day documenting the trains, stations, passengers, and views from the elevated platform. Forty years later this photo essay, shot in a single day, provides a glimpse into the past and preserves a memory of growing up in Brooklyn.

Opening Spring 2010, upon completion of the renovation of the Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store
WHERE NEW YORK BEGAN: ARCHEOLOGY AND THE SOUTH FERRY TERMINAL
New York Transit Museum Gallery Annex and Store at Grand Central Terminal
The new South Ferry subway station is enhancing New York's future and helping uncover its past. An area rich in city history, it has served as a military battery, fort, and barracks and was home to Native Americans, the Dutch and British and colonial Americans who developed it as a center of city commerce. Before constructing the station an extensive archeological dig was conducted on the site, and two 18th century city landmarks - four sections of the Battery Wall and portions of Whitehall Slip - were uncovered, along with 50,000 artifacts. This exhibit will feature these exciting discoveries and unravel the stories they tell about New York life long ago.

Through 2010
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 famous span, now renamed the Robert F. Kennedy Bridge, built to connect three boroughs and accommodate New York's burgeoning auto traffic. Enjoy illustrated family exhibit labels! Kid-friendly pictures and diagrams explain the operation and maintenance of bridges to the littlest engineers. New information and artifacts in the exhibition highlight RFK's election as New York Senator and his 1968 campaign for President.

GUEST CARS
Transit Museum guest cars highlight vintage and current vehicles that are not part of our permanent exhibit.
The Long Island Rail Road vintage caboose is extending her vacation and still on display at the NYTM! Steel Cabin Car No. C-60 was built by the International Railway Car Company in 1961 and used by the LIRR until 2003. Preserved and newly restored, the car is on loan from the National Railway Historical Society, Twin Forks Chapter.

Also currently on display are a pair of cars from one of the last money trains. These cars ran throughout the system at night, collecting revenue from stations and delivering it to NYCT's Money Room.

TOURS
Tours offered by the New York Transit Museum visit places that tap into a wide range of interests: art, technology, urban history, and even city eats! Whether it's your first or twenty-first trip with us, we hope you'll join us. Your Museum membership provides discounted admission. 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.

Saturday, April 10, 2010 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
SUBWAY TUNNELING IN NORTHERN MANHATTAN
$25, Museum members $20, Children (5 - 17) $15
Early subway construction in northern Manhattan wasn't easy, and engineers resorted to mountain tunneling methods to blast through the bedrock of Upper Manhattan's hills and rocky ridges. In this tour of uptown engineering marvels, transit historian Joe Cunningham reveals the system's deepest station, a city street carved out of solid rock, and a subway platform so deep it was used for a university physics lab. Bring a snack, we won't stop for lunch.

Thursday, April 22, at 6 p.m.
EARTH DAY: MEET THE GREEN TEAM AND TOUR THE CORONA MAINTENANCE FACILITY
$25, Museum members $20, Children (5 - 17) $15
Meet leaders of MTA New York City Transit's "Green Team" at our very own LEED-certified Corona Maintenance Facility, the first of its kind. NYC Transit Chief Architect Judith Kunoff, Chief Environmental Engineer Tom Abdallah, and Chief Officer of Environmental Sustainability Collette Ericsson will discuss this project and other proposed measures to manage the agency's carbon footprint. A tour with Assistant General Manager Ray DelValle will highlight the facility's energy and water efficiency.

TALKS & SCREENINGS
Artists, engineers, historians, and other experts add dimension to the Museum's exhibits in this series of talks, screenings, and panel discussions. Programs are held at the Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights unless otherwise noted, and are free with paid Museum admission. Reservations not required. Seating on a first come, first serve basis. For information please call 718-694-1794.

Saturday, April 17, 2010 at 2 p.m.
ALL ABOARD: 19th CENTURY STATEN ISLAND FERRIES AND RAILROADS
On the occasion of the Staten Island Railway's 150th anniversary, Staten Island Museum Curator Patricia M. Salmon presents an informative look at the 19th century ferries and railroads of Richmond County. Movers and shakers in transport history - including Governor Daniel D. Tompkins, Commodore Cornelius Vanderbilt, and Erastus Wiman - all play roles in this fascinating story of the Golden Era in Staten Island transportation.

FILM CORNER
Each season special features will be offered in the Museum's screening room. Films are screened on a continual basis daily unless other programs are planned. Screenings are free with paid Museum admission.

March - April 2010
MODERN MARVELS - ATHENS SUBWAY
A new underground metro system designed to meet the needs of a modern city is taking shape under Athens - and this huge engineering project is transforming this bustling metropolis. As this recently released History Channel feature reveals, engineers working in the heart of one of the oldest sites of continuous habitation in the world will also find themselves in the thick of a mammoth archaeological excavation, unearthing artifacts that span more than 25 centuries. Presented in connection with the new exhibition Where New York Began: South Ferry Archeology.

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. 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:

Saturday and Sunday, April 10 and 11, 2010, at 1:30 p.m. - Free with paid Museum Admission
TOTTENVILLE: THE END OF THE LINE
150 years ago, the train line that is today's Staten Island Railway reached Tottenville, the neighborhood which is the furthest south in the state and city of New York. We'll learn more about Tottenville and the Staten Island Railway through pictures and maps and create our own dioramas of the southernmost rail station in New York. For ages 5+

ONGOING:
Every Thursday at 1:30pm
WEEKLY PRESCHOOL TIME - Free with paid Museum Admission
We bring the Museum to life with transportation stories and a special tour for our youngest transit fans! All aboard! Ages 2-5

Saturday and Sunday, January 16 and 17, 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
February 20 and 21, March 27 and 28,

April 24 and 25, 2010
HANDS-ON HISTORY at 1:30 p.m. - Free with paid Museum Admission
Stop by the Hands-On History cart on the Museum's platform level and have a go at identifying items from the Museum's collection. Explore controls, machine parts, and various tools of trains past and present. All ages

GENERAL MUSEUM INFORMATION
New York Transit Museum, located at the Corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn Heights

HOURS
Tuesday-Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday Noon to 5 p.m.
Closed Mondays and major holidays.

ADMISSION
Adults $5
Children 3 - 17 and seniors (62+) $3
Seniors free every Wednesday
Museum members and children under 3 free
Information: 718-694-1600