New York City Subway Tiles
29 March 2025
The New York City Subway system opened officially in late 1904 with 28 stations. By 1924 there were about 120 stations, by the 1950’s there were 445, and now there are 472 active stations. Many of the early stations are still lined with their original tiles, while others have been partially or completely renovated.
In 1965 the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) was created by the New York State legislation as a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the New York City metropolitan area. At some point the MTA began stockpiling, and then selling discarded items and surplus materials. The sales offered a variety of objects including signs, signals, benches, and equipment, as well as tiles. With a steady flow of materials from ongoing renovations and general maintenance systemwide, tiles from all time periods have shown up at local flea markets, salvage, and antique stores.
Stairwells, entries, and platforms are often lined with white tiles, and a common backdrop for decorative elements, station identification, and mosaic installations, even in the earliest station designs (Image 1). Other tiles are more rare, as with those of stations prior to 1942 which were color coded. Since then there have been a variety of shapes, colors, and materials that can be traced back to a specific station or line.
The 53rd Street entry of the Lexington Avenue and 53rd Street station is lined with heavy Imperial Red Granite tiles (image 2). The tiles are rare in that they are not used at any of the other 472 stations. The entry is maintained by the Lipstick Building at 885 Third Avenue, and match the building’s facade and forecourt that opened in 1986. More than a dozen tiles were found in a carton filled with the more common, current white square porcelain tiles (Image 3) at an architectural salvage store downtown. They are sturdy and useful as trivets or mini plinths, and they have a pedigree.
NOTES -
Porcelain is a form of ceramic made from a specific clay, fired at a higher temperature, making it more dense, less porous, and stronger than ceramic and suitable for high-traffic areas. It is generally more expensive, and more durable.
Imperial Red Granite is a fine grain, deep red with black, white, and grey grain granite quarried in India.
Image 1 - Ceramic subway tiles (early 1900’s)
Image 2 - Imperial Red Granite tile (1986)
Image 3 - Square porcelain subway tile (late 2000 - present)
