Hello readers from all over the world! It’s THE RIDE here to tell you a secret. Today you’ll learn about New York City’s super secret subway stop. I take care of my RIDErs, which is why I feel the need to let you folks know about this awesome secret spot. Just keep it on the down low, if you know what I mean. Before I get into all that, you should all be aware of the insane world of the underground New York City infrastructure.

First, some history. 1812 marked the birth of New York City’s first closed sewer. The main canal located on, you guessed it, Canal Street became the city’s first roofed system. Prior to that, it was just an open, flowing canal. You could, at high tide, actually canoe down the canal from the Hudson River to Columbus Park. While New York City isn’t as old as some of those European or Asian cities, there is still a rich vein of history lurking below the busy streets. This brings us to the super secret subway stop.

In 1904, New York City opened the “Manhattan Line.” This subway line was the city’s pride back in the day. The southern terminus was a stop at City Hall. This was a beautifully decorated stop complete with brass fixtures, tile mosaics, and skylights that wrapped around the curve in the tracks. The Manhattan Line only remained open to the public until 1945 when the city had the need to make the train cars longer and adjust the routes. The station stop has been boarded up ever since.

If you want to see this fantastic piece of history, you still can! All you have to do is take the 6 train all the way south to the turnaround point. The train still uses the tracks and if you are patient enough to sit on the subway that long, you’ll be rewarded with an elegant view of this super secret subway stop. If you do see it, let me know what it’s like! I’m too big to fit down there.