December 13, 2006
Exploring the old City Hall station - new tours on tap
 Hidden under City Hall is one of the New York's forgotten gems -- the century-old original City Hall subway station. The arching tiled station is filled with chandeliers, leaded skylights, Guastavino ceilings and original Heins & LaFarge designs. It's been off-limits to the public for decades except for rare tours.
 In September, NewYorkology paid a visit with the Transit Museum, which has just announced a new schedule of winter tours.
The station, now used only by the 6 trains when looping from the end of the downtown to the start of the uptown route, was first used in 1904.
During the September tour, we were told the station has never appeared in any movie. The closest it got was a mock-up in "Ghostbusters II." The tiles in the station -- in greens, cremes and browns -- are missing in many areas, some even broken out to make way for pipes in the old ticketing room. Layers of the Guastavino tiles are exposed at the arches over the hallways. Curves dominate, leading up to the skylights -- three over the platform and one in the anteroom.
As for the upcoming tours, they're scheduled for January 27 and February 4 and cost $20 for adults and $10 for children. The only way you can book a slot is to become a member of the museum, which is $40 for a regular membership. Reservations will be accepted starting December 14 by calling (718) 694-1867.
There are more pictures after the jump, and a soundless, cell phone-qaulity video of the station at Travelistic.
Earlier: YouTube + travel = Travelistic
Old City Hall subway station tour set for Sept. 9
Forgotten NY calls on city to reopen first subway stop
First 28 subway stations celebrated at Forgotten NY
December 13, 2006 11:01 AM in Architecture, Downtown, History, Museums, Sightsology, Tours, Transportology
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