The end of the story is that it was the best subway “ride” I’ve ever had. I loved it.

The beginning: last weekend, a couple friends and I started tossing around ideas for a cultural (or at least, atypical) Saturday afternoon. Both criterion were met when I came across a reference to the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights, NY.

Perhaps it’s my rural upbringing that makes me wide-eyed over public transportation. It might also be the reason that I love learning about New York’s urban development. At any rate, I found my Metrocard, donned my striped engineer cap, and hopped on the C train to Brooklyn.

The museum is actually housed in a de-commissioned 1936 subway station that was among New York’s first. It’s truly the perfect setting for a museum of this kind—complete with tour guides in MTA vests—and offers a totally unique New York experience.

The must-see exhibits include Steel, Stone & Backbone: Building New York’s Subways 1900-1925, Fare Collection (the fare used to be five cents!), as well as the collection of train cars highlighting the evolution of train design and technology. It’s hard to believe that cars were once made of wood, and used to feature both ceiling fans and windows that opened completely…but it’s these very historical tidbits that make me especially appreciative of today’s trains.

While those who ride the subway every day may feel a little hesitant about spending an afternoon underground, this is really an “ plus” experience!

For more information, check out http://www.mta.info/mta/museum/