New York Subway Extension

On July 23, 1904, the IRT subway extended service from 145th Street to 157th Street in Manhattan, part of the original Broadway line. This expansion used innovative deep-bore tunneling techniques to navigate the dense city grid. August Belmont Jr. financed the project, with trains powered by third-rail electrification. It alleviated street congestion from horse-drawn vehicles and early automobiles, setting standards for rapid transit worldwide. The extension supported New York's explosive growth, enabling suburban expansion and becoming a model for global subway systems.