SCHOOL PROGRAMS

School Program; Credit - Shahar Azran (2)

Our school group tours use the museum’s unique space and hands-on collection to explore how transportation helped shape New York City throughout history to present day. Tours include a mix of inquiry, observation, primary and secondary sources, and interactive activities to engage learners of all ages and abilities. Tours are aligned with learning standards and support many curriculum areas and are a great way for school and youth groups to explore the Museum.

TOUR SCHEDULE

In-Person (60 Minutes)

Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays

10:00am, 11:30am, and 1:00pm

BOOK A TOUR

Step-by-step instructions on how to book group tours using Explorable Places.

GROUP SIZES & RATES

General Education & ICT Groups

$200.00 per group

Pre-K: up to 18 students (9 chaperones)

Kindergarten: up to 25 students (7 chaperones)

Grades 1-12: 36 participants (including youth and chaperones).

Special Education (Self-Contained) Groups

$100.00 per group, 17 participants (including youth and chaperones).

FEE WAIVER – TITLE 1 SCHOOLS

A limited number of fee waivers are available for Title 1 schools. The waiver is limited to one class per school each year. The application process runs on a first-come, first-served basis. Title 1 School Group Tour Fee Waiver Information & Application. Please email [email protected] for more information.

SCHOOL GROUP TOURS

Art on the Go

Discover the variety of art and design found throughout New York City and the surrounding region’s transportation system, including visual art, poetry, and music. This is an immersive tour of the Museum’s exhibits and vintage train collection that explores the connection between public art and mass transit. (General & Special Education: K-12 Grade)

Journey to the Past

Learn about the history of New York through its mass transit system. Find out how mass transit impacted the development of the city and the lives of everyday New Yorkers. Note: This tour no longer includes the costumed storytelling performance. (General & Special Education: K-6 Grade)

Moving the Millions

Investigate the magnitude and complexity of New York City and the surrounding region’s public transportation system by exploring the evolution of public transit through its construction, engineering, organization, and resulting impacts on society. (General & Special Education: 4-12 Grade)

Subway Tracks

Explore New York City’s subway system from past to present. Track the history of our complex transit system on a tour of our vintage train collection while also discussing how we safely ride the subway today, from entering the system with a MetroCard or OMNY tap, to recognizing potential concerns and social cues. (Special Education Only; 6th Grade – Adult Learners)

BOOK A TOUR

Step-by-step instructions on how to book group tours using Explorable Places.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Payment by credit card is preferred but checks are also accepted. If payment is not received three weeks prior to your visit, your program will be canceled. Refunds cannot be given less than three weeks before your visit. If school bus service is suspended due to inclement weather or other factors, we may be able to reschedule groups. Additional payment information will be sent upon booking.  

For questions about school group tours and the booking process, please email [email protected].  

For questions about accessibility and Special Education programs, please email [email protected].

Review and download a social narrative to prepare participants for a group tour at the New York Transit Museum.

PLANNING YOUR VISIT

Reservations are required for all group visits and masks are optional. The Museum does not allow self-guided or unscheduled groups at any time. The Museum does not have lunch facilities. We encourage groups to eat, weather permitting, at some nearby outdoor eating options including Columbus Park, Korean War Veterans Plaza, or Cadman Plaza Park. The Museum does not have a coat or bag check and cannot store backpacks and coats during your program. We recommend leaving backpacks and other personal items on your bus or at school.

ARRIVALS & DEPARTURES

Please arrive no more than 5 minutes before your scheduled tour; the Museum cannot accommodate entry any earlier. Upon arrival, your educator will meet you at the top of the stairs outside the Museum. Do not enter until you are with your educator. Late-arriving groups will receive an abbreviated program. We cannot extend tours due to late arrival for any reason.  If you anticipate a late arrival, please email [email protected]. 

All groups must depart at their scheduled time. Groups may not stay in the Museum after the program ends.

CANCELLATIONS

Tours are non-refundable within three weeks of the scheduled visit, though changes to times and dates may be accommodated on a case-by-case basis and as space allows.

ACCESSIBILITY

Upon booking, you will be asked to share any specific needs for your group so we can best assist you. The Transit Museum is wheelchair accessible via a lift which has a total weight limit of 450 pounds. The lift moves slowly and allows one person at a time, so please plan to arrive 15 minutes before your program’s start time. If you need to use the lift, please inform us in advance. For more information about accessibility options, including ASL Interpreters and listening devices, please visit the Museum’s accessibility page on our website.

TRANSPORTATION

Traveling by Subway

Taking the train is the best way to begin your visit to the Transit Museum. We are conveniently located a short walk from:
Borough Hall Station: 2, 3, 4, and 5 lines (0.2 miles)
Jay Street MetroTech Station: A, C, F, and R (0.2 miles)
Hoyt-Schermerhorn Station: A, C, and G (0.2 miles)
Certificates for Free Transportation are provided by NYC Transit to travel to and from school trips. For more information and application link: Transportation Program – DYCD (nyc.gov)

Traveling by School Bus

Buses may drop off students on either Boerum Place or Schermerhorn Street. Parking is limited and unpredictable in Downtown Brooklyn.

TEACHING RESOURCES

The New York Transit Museum works with teachers, parents, caregivers and students to develop free resources for learning and engagement in and out of the classroom. Virtual visit videos with Museum Educators, archival images, lesson plans, suggested reading lists, and background information can be used on their own or to continue the learning after a previous visit to the Museum.

Journey to the Past

Learn about the history of transportation in New York City, and compare the past and present through the lens of public transit.

Art on the Go

Discover the relationship between art and the New York City Transit system through visual art, music and poetry.

CONTINUING TEACHER & LEADER EDUCATION (CTLE)

The New York Transit Museum is an approved sponsor of Continuing Teacher & Leader Education (CTLE). Our programs explore curriculum-aligned topics in Social Studies, Sciences, and the Arts and provide practical strategies for using Transit Museum collections and exhibitions to support the school curriculum.

For more information about professional development or to book a custom workshop, please email [email protected].