New York City subway celebrates 100 years.

One hundred years ago, the first subway pulled out of the City Hall station. Now from the A train to the Z line, it has grown into the largest subway system in the nation. To mark that special birthday, museums and organizations throughout the city are hosting a variety of special programs and events.

"The New York City subway system carries more than 1.3 billion passengers a year and is an integral part of the New York experience," said Cristyne L. Nicholas, president & CEO of NYC & Company. "Visitors and residents alike from all walks of life depend on the subway, and we salute a century of subway service."

October 27, 2004 marks the 100th anniversary of the subway's inauguration and to celebrate, the New York Transit Museum (718/ 694-1867, www.mta.info/ mta/museum) is hosting an open house and waiving admission for all visitors that day. The open house will feature access to all museum exhibits and special centennial programs.

Families can celebrate the subway's 100th birthday at the Subway Centennial Birthday Party (718/964-1848, www.mta.info/mta/museum), hosted by the New York Transit Museum. The party will include a special museum tour for kids, a "Miles of Tiles" workshop and a birthday cake. On October 28 and 29, history buffs will enjoy a peek into the past as vintage subway cars are operated on various lines throughout the subway system as part of the Catch Me If You Can Vintage Train Rides program (718/694-1600, www.mta.info/mta/ museum). The vintage cars will run during nonrush hours and stop at various stations around the city.

Several museums and galleries are hosting exhibits to pay tribute to the history of New York City subway. "Underground Art, 1925-1950: A Centennial Celebration of the New York City Subway" (212/802-2690, www.baruch.cuny.edu/ mishkin) examines the subway as a novel environment that inspired a variety of artistic representations from 1925 to 1950. The exhibit includes 35 paintings, prints and photographs by artists including John Sloan, Mark Rothko and Jacob Lawrence.

The New York Transit Museum, the Museum of the City of New York and the New York Historical Society have collaborated to produce an exhibition commemorating key moments in the subway's 100-year history. On display at the New York Transit Museum, the "Centennial Celebration" exhibit includes recently renovated vault lights from City Hall and the silver-bladed ceremonial shovel used to break ground for the subway in 1900. Also at the New York Transit Museum is an exhibit about the construction of the subway.