A Guide to Exploring New York's Amazing Underground Museum
Plus, some answers to your questions
As a quick followup to the latest Photowalks episode about the photo paradise that is the New York subway system, I’ve got a quick guide for you about key stations you’ll want to visit on your next visit to the city. (Stick around to the end—I’ve got answers to some of your questions about the episode.)
While most people think of the New York subway as a way to get somewhere, I happen to think of it as one of the greatest art museums in the world — and it only costs $3 to get in. As long as you don’t go through the turnstiles, you can go from station to station all day long marveling at the wall art.
So let’s head underground (and sometimes above it) to photograph historic mosaics, modern masterpieces, skyline views, vintage trains, and one of the most beautiful abandoned stations in America.
📍 Stop 1: 72nd Street (Q Line) – Modern Mosaic Masterpiece
This station is part of the Second Avenue line and features bold, contemporary mosaic work by artist Vik Muniz — whose work also hangs in major museums like MoMA and the Guggenheim.
📍 Stop 2: 86th Street – Chuck Close Portraits
At 86th Street (and 2nd Avenue), look up.
Nine-foot mosaic portraits by Chuck Close dominate the station — including a striking portrait of the late musician Lou Reed.
📍 Stop 3: 81st Street – Natural History Museum Station
Right outside the American Museum of Natural History on Central Park West, the station walls celebrate animals — including the famous alligator tile (a nod to the urban legend of gators in the sewers).
📍 Stop 4: 14th Street – Life Underground
Look closely — tiny bronze figures are everywhere at this station on 14th and 8th Avenue, served by the A, C, E, and L lines.
Artist Tom Otterness installed whimsical sculptures throughout the station. You’ll spot miniature characters climbing beams and even another alligator emerging from the depths.
📍 Stop 5: Brooklyn Transit Museum
Ever heard of a museum that’s underground?
Make Brooklyn’s New York Transit Museum a must stop.
It’s housed in an old subway station and features:
Vintage subway cars
1940s–60s advertising
Historic artifacts
The original story of the 1904 line from City Hall to 145th Street
📍 Stop 6: Queensboro Plaza – Elevated Skyline Views
Take the 7 train to Queensboro Plaza in Long Island City.
Here you get arguably your best subway station view, with the open sky, steel tracks and that dynamic Manhattan skyline behind the train. Especially good just after sunset.
📍 Stop 7: Smith–Ninth Streets – The Highest Subway Station in the World
This is the tallest subway station in the world — nearly 90 feet above ground.
Built in 1933 to avoid tunneling under a canal, it accidentally created another one of the best skyline views in New York.
On a clear day:
Manhattan skyline pops
Brooklyn rooftops stretch out below
🎥 The Secret Station: Old City Hall
Closed since the 1940s, Old City Hall is widely considered the most beautiful station ever built — with skylights, curved tile ceilings, and ornate detail. Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in there.
The bad news: you generally can’t get in to see it.
That is, unless you book an official tour through the Transit Museum, which accepts people via lottery and only goes a few times a year.
Your other option is to stay on the downtown 6 train past the final stop and glimpse it through the right-side window
It goes by fast — but it’s worth trying.
Have fun exploring—I know I sure did!
Selfie Stick or Cage?
We get questions: “I saw you were using a cage (I think that’s what it's called) to hold your iPhone in the Hollywood episode. Is that for better stability or are there other reasons? Can it be secured to a tripod, for example?”—John, North Carolina.
Here’s the deal: yes, I swear by my selfie stick, which is made by Insta360 and sells for under $25 on Amazon. It’s hands down a better video tool for me than the cheap $150 gimbels made by DJI and Insta360. It helps me keep the video shot steadier than handheld, expands into a little 4 foot tripod and there are many photos I’m able to pick up that I otherwise wouldn’t because I’m able to extend my arm with the use of a tool.
The gimbels, as well meaning as they are, don’t really make the shot that much steadier—I’ve done back to back tests, and I defy you to see a noticeable difference. (With a Selfie Stick you don’t have to balance it with the phone, or have it charged up to work.)
Now for the cage: I picked up this model from Neewer for $50 and I love it. It has two handles on the side to let me grip the camera, again, for a steadier video shot, plus, it has several cold shoe slots to connect lighting, audio and other tools, and it can easily be secured to a tripod—or a selfie stick.
Why one over the other? Personal choice—I like having both of them. Sometimes I’m in the mood for the stick, other times the Cage. I would guess that the video shot would be slightly steadier with the cage (great for pans) but the stick would enable photo shots where height is needed.
Questions from Arbs: “I continue to enjoy your travels from down in Australia. Can you tell me what app you use for the still photos? Is it the native iphone app or something else?”
I do use the native camera app for 90% of what I do, because it lets me switch back and forth between photos and video. But in the case of the New York subway episode, I did that specific shot of the train whooshing by as I stood still, and it created great motion blur and the native app couldn’t have done that. For that shot, I used the ProCamera app, which enabled me to use manual shutter speed settings—vital for an image like that. I put the shutter on 1/8th of a second and had fun experimenting. The app sells for under $10 and is great to use. Other good manual apps include Halide and ReeHeld.
Wednesday: Live with Scott Kelby, 1 p.m. ET
Speaking of iPhone Photography, we’ve got the master himself, Scott Kelby, joining me on Wednesday’s live show at 1 p.m. ET.
Scott wrote the book on iPhone Photography and his KelbyOneLive company stages next week’s iPhone Photography Conference, which starts on 3/10. Get early-bird pricing and save $150 here
Can’t wait to see everybody and hear your questions Wednesday!
Jeff
Aw, man. I was all set to visit that subway stop in NYC, but first you have to pay a membership and then you have to pay $50. And that's just too much.