Timeline

1904

Discover what happened in this year with HISTORY’s summaries of major events, anniversaries, famous births and notable deaths.

Oct

27

Landmarks

New York City subway opens

At 2:35 on the afternoon of October 27, 1904, New York City Mayor George McClellan takes the controls on the inaugural run of the city’s innovative new rapid transit system: the subway.

Seth Low

1903: American merchant and politician Seth Low (1850-1916), mayor of New York City, presides over the official opening of the New York Subway, New York City. (Photo by Edwin Levick/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

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