Including over 5,400 linear feet of material, the New York Transit Museum’s archive holds innumerable stories waiting to be told. In the series, Mining the Archives, join Museum staff to uncover transit history.  

Did you know that New York City subway stations used to have thousands of vending machines? With its built-in audience and citywide network, the transit system has been ripe for marketing and distribution opportunities throughout its history. In fact, vending machines were first introduced to the U.S. on New York’s elevated train platforms in the 1880s and several are in the Transit Museum’s collection. Bringing chewing gum, chocolate, and peanuts to the commuting masses, vending machines became a part of underground culture and shaped the future of automated machines across the city and beyond. 

Please Note: This event will take place online. Upon registration, all participants will receive two emails - one will be a receipt and the other will include a Zoom link with instructions on how to participate. We encourage you to download the Zoom app in advance for the best user experience.

You will have the option to turn on automatic captions for this virtual program. Staff will share instructions for how to do so at the start of the event. Please email access@nytransitmuseum.org for any accessibility-related questions. Please contact programs@nytransitmuseum.org for general inquiries.

By registering for this program, you consent to receive emails from the New York Transit Museum and program partners. You may revoke your consent at any time by using the unsubscribe link found at the bottom of every e-mail. Please Note: Unsubscribed individuals will not receive program reminders and updates, which may include necessary information to participate such as Zoom links and departure locations.