Constructed by the city-owned Independent Subway System (IND), the A train, known then as the 8th Avenue System, opened in 1932 as a 12-mile subway line running from 207th Street in Upper Manhattan to Chambers St in Lower Manhattan. By the 1950s, the line had grown to be the longest line in the New York City subway system, running 31 miles across three boroughs and traversing diverse communities along the way. It is also known for having been immortalized in Billy Strayhorn’s song ‘Take the A Train’, a song which has become a celebration of the subway itself.

Join Museum Educator Kate Lanceley for a digital discussion that will explore the history of the A train line. Discover unique features of the line and the history of its construction, including the individuals who helped build it and stories about some of the communities it serves.