On October 27th, 1904, a nine-mile section of New York City subway track opened that was largely the pioneering work of William Barclay Parsons, the Chief Engineer of the Rapid Transit Commission from 1894 to 1904. A graduate of Columbia’s School of Mines, Parsons was a brilliant engineer and skilled negotiator who traveled widely to analyze the achievements and flaws of subway systems abroad as he began to devise plans for New York City. Parsons successfully persuaded politicians, bankers, and citizens alike to get on board with his ideas, which enabled him to plan and build the first route of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company in a mere four years.
Join Curator Kathleen Hulser for a digital discussion to examine the accomplishments and challenges Parsons faced during the construction of the New York City subway, as well as the key decisions he made that shaped the system that still moves millions of New Yorkers today.
This discussion will take place online. Upon registration, all participants will receive a confirmation e-mail with instructions on how to participate. We encourage you to download the Zoom app in advance for the best user experience
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