Court Street: A Historic Station and Museum in Brooklyn

The Court Street station is a former subway station located in Downtown Brooklyn, New York. Although it no longer functions as a regular passenger stop, it holds significant historical importance and houses the New York Transit Museum. Its location is adjacent to the active Borough Hall station complex, serving as a unique portal to the city’s transportation history.

Current Status and Nearby Connections

The Court Street station is not an active station in the traditional sense, but it is directly connected to the adjacent Borough Hall complex:

Court Street (New York Transit Museum Platform)

• This part is the main location of the New York Transit Museum, occupying the original underground station.
• It is primarily served by:
  • Museum Exhibits (including vintage trains on the tracks)
  • Occasionally, the R (yellow) service may terminate here or use the tracks for special events or reroutes.
• Main entrance address: Corner of Boerum Place & Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 (Museum Entrance)

Borough Hall (Connected Active Complex)

• This part is the adjacent active subway station complex, physically connected through the museum and passageways.
• It is served by trains from the following services:
  • 2 (red – Seventh Avenue–Broadway Line)
  • 3 (red – Seventh Avenue–Broadway Line)
  • 4 (green – Lexington Avenue Line)
  • 5 (green – Lexington Avenue Line)
  • R (yellow – Fourth Avenue Line)
• Entrances to this section are located around the Borough Hall and Court Street area.

The connection between the museum platform (Court Street) and the active Borough Hall complex allows museum visitors to easily access active subway lines.

Location and Nearby Landmarks

• The station/museum is located at the corner of Boerum Place and Schermerhorn Street in Downtown Brooklyn, near the border with Brooklyn Heights.
• Its strategic location makes it a key access point to important destinations such as:

  • Downtown Brooklyn

    • Brooklyn Borough Hall: The historic borough hall.
    • Cadman Plaza Park: A large central public park.
    • Courthouses and government buildings.
    • Shopping area of Fulton Street.

  • Brooklyn Heights

    • A historic neighborhood famous for its brownstones and quiet streets.
    • Brooklyn Heights Promenade: Offers panoramic views of Lower Manhattan and the Brooklyn Bridge.
    • Numerous historic churches and residential architecture.

  • Key Attractions

    • New York Transit Museum (located within the station itself).
    • Nearby access to the Brooklyn Bridge (pedestrian entrance).
    • Columbus Park.

History: From Station to Museum

• The Court Street station was inaugurated on April 9, 1936, as the terminus of the IND Fulton Street Line.
• It was closed to passenger service on June 1, 1946, due to low ridership and its proximity to other better-connected stations like Borough Hall/Court Street (IRT) and Hoyt–Schermerhorn Streets (IND).
• The disused station was chosen as the site for the New York Transit Museum, which opened its doors on July 4, 1976. The platform and tracks are used to exhibit historic rolling stock and, occasionally, for special subway operations.

Interesting Facts

• It is the only subway station in New York City that houses a museum dedicated to the history of the public transportation system.
• Due to its authenticity and the presence of vintage trains, the station is frequently used as a filming location for movies and television series set in different eras of the New York subway.
• Visitors can explore a large collection of historic subway cars and buses directly on the original platform tracks.