Greenwich Village: Birthplace of the Elevated Railway

A Lecture by Joe Cunningham

Elevated rapid transit was introduced by Charles Harvey in 1868 with a short cable-operated line on Greenwich Street. Though the propulsion system proved inadequate, that first line was the forerunner of a transportation system still in operation around the world. This presentation will focus on the origins of the elevated structures on Greenwich Street and the obstacles that were overcome in a few short years to transform the concept into a system that proved vital to the economic growth of Manhattan and cities throughout the world.