How to See an Old Abandoned But Beautiful New York Subway Station

The map of New York's abandoned spaces has been growing for decades, covering empty hospitals and rehabilitation centers, as well as forgotten subway stations. Secret nyc tells about a metro station that was abandoned 77 years ago and how you can see it.

The 18th Street Station operated for only 44 years, from 1904 to 1948. It once helped locals get around downtown Manhattan.

History of the 18th Street Subway Station

In fact, 18th Street was one of the original 28 stations. Metro New York City and served as part of the Interborough Rapid Transit (IRT) Lexington Avenue Line, which ran from Great Jones Street to 41st Street.

On the subject: Ten Abandoned New York Subway Stations You Can Visit

The station, built underground with no mezzanine and with separate fare control booths on each side, was located at East 18th Street and Park Avenue South in Gramercy.

Unique design of the station

When it opened, 18th Street was a magnificent structure, with two side platforms and four tracks, each about 60 feet long to accommodate five-car trains.

It dazzled with blue-green tiles, buff and purple stripes, purple porcelain cornices, and green porcelain plaques. All of it was made by the American Encaustic Tile Company and designed by Heins & LaFarge, the same architects who designed the famous City Hall station.

Additionally, the original glass ceiling panels allowed natural light to enter, a rarity for stations of the time.

Over time, the station became covered in graffiti, and much of the original tiles and terracotta trim remained underneath the paint.

End of an Era: The Closing of 18th Street Station

During the first few years, when Metro began to gain popularity in the city, and passenger traffic increased sharply.

Just 5 years after its opening (1909), the New York City Public Service Commission proposed widening the platform so that more cars could carry New Yorkers on a single train. A year later (1910), the 18th Street platforms were widened by another 6 to 9 feet, allowing for an additional car to be accommodated on the newly renovated platform.

Over the years, more expansions were planned at the station, but these became too costly.

18th Street was eventually closed on November 8, 1948, as part of a systemwide modernization program. Officials concluded that its proximity to the 14th Street–Union Square and 23rd Street stations would be too redundant if improved.

How to See the Abandoned 18th Street Station

Today, the station's platforms stand intact but abandoned. However, you can actually see 18th Street when riding the modern subway!

Board trains 4, 5 and 6 and look out the right window to see an abandoned station covered in graffiti.

There are no signs of the station at street level, so it's pretty cool to only see its remains underground.