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A young person curiously examines a model train set representing the Washington DC Metro system, highlighting its design and detail. The scene captures the excitement of the Metro's early days in black and white, emphasizing its significance in the region's history.
A young boy observes a detailed model of a Washington DC Metro train, featuring the iconic red and silver colors with the Metro logo. The scene captures his focused expression as he leans in, creating a nostalgic connection to the Metro system's history.

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Exhibition

Celebrating 50 Years of Metro: Explore the Exhibition

A look back (and ahead) at America’s Metro System.

Step inside Metro’s 50th anniversary exhibition and explore the history, people, and innovation behind one of the nation’s most recognizable transit systems.

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The first regular transit service in the Washington area began in 1848.

Horse-drawn stagecoach-type vehicles began operating between Georgetown and the Navy Yard via Pennsylvania Avenue and Capitol Hill.

Metro's Northern Bus Garage was built in 1906 and opened in 1907.

The current reconstruction project connects more than 100 years of transit history in the National Capital Region while turning the facility into a state-of-the-art garage for a 100% zero-emission fleet.

Plans for Metro go back nearly 75 years.

In 1952, Congress passed the National Planning Act, which President Harry S. Truman signed into law. The act required plans for moving people and goods in the region.

DC’s century-long streetcar era ended in 1962.

The change marked the end of trolley service on the 14th Street and U Street lines as buses replaced streetcars across the city.

Metro was born from an interstate compact in 1967.

The compact created a public authority responsible to, and representative of, the District of Columbia, Virginia and Maryland.

Metro Bus was created by buying out four private companies.

In 1973, WMATA bought D.C. Transit Inc., WV&M Coach Co., AB&W Transit Co. and WMA Transit Co. to create the Metro Bus system.

Metro’s design was inspired by the best elements of transit around the world.

In 1966, at President Lyndon B. Johnson’s direction, Metro architects took a six-week tour of 16 cities in Europe and Asia to incorporate global best practices into the system’s design.

Metro’s trains were originally going to be glossy red.

Inspired by the London Underground, but cost concerns led to the now-familiar unpainted aluminum with brown trim.

Metro’s vaulted ceilings are designed to muffle sound.

The concrete design helps control acoustics and improve sound clarity underground.

Metro’s first revenue trains ran March 27, 1976.

The first service operated on the Red Line between Rhode Island Avenue and Farragut North.

When Metro Rail first opened in 1976, there were no faregates.

Customers dropped exact change, 40 cents to 55 cents during rush hour, into fareboxes on either side of the kiosk. Paper fare cards and entrance gates arrived in 1977.

During Metro’s first several weeks, passenger counts were three times higher than projected.

Metro initially carried about 25,000 riders a day. By the end of the fifth week, more than 600,000 passengers had ridden the system.

Metro trains can travel up to 75 mph.

The system’s quarter-mile steel rails are welded together and cushioned to reduce noise and vibration, which is why riders do not hear the familiar clickety-clack.

WMATA introduced Smart Trip cards in 1999.

The original SmarTrip cards could be programmed with up to $180 in fare value.

Construction of the original system was completed Jan. 13, 2001.

The project was completed with the opening of the final five Green Line stations in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

On 9/11, Metro helped evacuate the capital, supported first responders, and kept D.C. connected.

WMATA buses transported the injured from the Pentagon to hospitals and helped D.C. police move personnel during the response.

We are the second busiest rapid rail system in the United States.

With six rail lines, 98 stations, 126 bus routes and door-to-door paratransit service, Metro served 268.9 million trips in 2025.

More than 70% of the region’s 1.7 million jobs are within walking distance of a station or bus stop.

From anywhere in the region, the average person can reach more than 250,000 jobs within a one-hour train or bus ride.

Metro was named the best large transit agency in the country.

The American Public Transportation Association named Metro its 2025 Transit Agency of the Year.

Metro has the most elevators and escalators of any transit system in North America.

Metro has 320 elevators and 647 escalators. Wheaton Station’s 230-foot escalator is the longest in the Western Hemisphere.

Over the years, Metro has issued over 140 special edition fare and Smart Trip cards.

The cards have marked major events, anniversaries, holidays and regional celebrations across Metro’s history.

New 8000-series railcars are being built right here in the region.

Hitachi is building the new cars at a factory in Hagerstown, Maryland. The cars feature open passageways, dynamic maps and regenerative braking.

Metro shattered its all-time ridership record on Obama’s Inauguration Day.

Metro recorded 1,544,721 trips that day, including about 1.12 million rail trips, 423,000 bus trips and 1,721 Metro Access trips.

Metro is 20 times safer than driving.

Transit helps the region avoid about 30 deaths, more than 2,500 injuries and nearly $950 million in crash costs each year.

Households that ride transit instead of driving save about $10,500 per year.

The annual cost of owning a car is about $12,000, compared with roughly $1,500 to ride Metro.

When storms delayed Beyoncé’s 2023 FedEx Field concert, Metro stayed open an extra hour.

Despite the delay and large crowds, Metro helped customers get home safely.

Metro Rail crossed the one-million-trip threshold for the first time Jan. 20, 2009.

Rail trips alone (1,120,000) blew past the previous record of 866,681 — set just the day before during inaugural weekend events.

Transit helps the region avoid $2 billion in parking costs.

Without Metro, the region would need a five-story parking garage the size of the National Mall.

The record for visiting all 98 Metro stations is 8 hours, 53 minutes, 10 seconds.

Charles Nemecek set the record Jan. 2, 2024, in DC to bring attention to the system.

Transit avoids 1.2 million metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

That is equivalent to every household in Arlington County going energy-free for a year.

More than 40 Metro stations feature public art.

As of 2026, 44 Metro Rail stations have featured temporary or permanent public art installations.

Without transit, the region would need 1,300 miles of new highway lanes.

Transit saves commuters 20 to 30 minutes per rush-hour trip on corridors such as I-66, I-95 and New York Avenue.

Metro Rail customer satisfaction hit 92%, the highest mark in Metro history.

Customers credited more frequent service, better reliability and stronger feelings of safety on board.

In 2022, Metro formed a partnership with the Autism Transit Project.

The partnership highlights the special bond children with autism often have with mass transit systems.

One system, 850,000 daily trips.

Across rail, bus, and paratransit, Metro supports roughly 850,000 trips every day, and is working toward 1 million daily customers. It operates one of the largest fleets in the country.

Metro employs over 13,000 people.

It’s one of the largest employers in the region—powering both transit and workforce development.

Metro is designing for world-class service.

The goal is faster, safer and more frequent service that competes with global transit leaders.

In February 2026, Metro honored Rosa Parks on her birthday by reserving a seat in her honor on every bus and train.

The signs recognized Parks’ refusal to give up her seat on a Montgomery, Alabama, bus in 1955 — an act of courage that helped advance the civil rights movement.

Metro is investing $17.3 billion to modernize and grow the system.

The capital pipeline will help modernize and expand the system over the next decade.

Metro delivers more than 264 million trips a year.

In FY25, Metro moved hundreds of millions of passengers across rail, bus and paratransit.

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Three smiling young girls sit together on a subway train, showcasing a moment of joy and friendship. The girl in the center wears a cropped top, while the others display playful expressions in casual clothing, reflecting the vibrant community atmosphere of the Metro. A group celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system, dressed in period costumes, is holding signs that read "GWU WELCOMES." The scene features a man in a suit and two people in 18th-century attire, with a Metro train in the background. The atmosphere is festive and historical, highlighting community support for the event. Two people, an elderly man and a woman, observe a display with a police officer pointing at it. The setting appears to be a Metro station. The black and white photo evokes a sense of nostalgia, reflecting on the history and community connections of the Metro system. A group of four individuals in a subway station, dressed in 1970s fashion. Two women, one in a light coat and the other wearing glasses, are accompanied by two men in suits. They appear to be engaged in conversation, reflecting a moment from the Metro system's early years. The setting features a simple subway decor. A group of young people packed together in a subway car, showing expressions of excitement and curiosity, celebrating the vibrant history of the Washington DC Metro system. The image captures a moment of commuting life, reflecting the social atmosphere within the transit system over the years. Two men sit on a Metro train, one reading a booklet while the other smiles and holds a drink. Behind them, passengers enjoy the ride, showcasing a mix of hairstyles and 1970s fashion. The black-and-white image captures a moment of camaraderie and relaxation on the Washington DC Metro, emphasizing the public transport culture. A passenger reading a newspaper on the Metro with a focus on Dupont Circle station visible through the window, capturing a moment of daily commuting. The scene reflects the long history and significance of the Washington DC Metro system as it celebrates its 50th anniversary. A group of people in hard hats celebrates the construction of the Metro system with a large sign reading "METRO B-10 HOLE THROUGH MARCH 10, 1986." They are gathered around a table with a cake, enjoying the milestone moment during the metro's early development phase. Two people dressed in panda costumes stand beside a man in a suit and bowler hat, smiling as they pose for a photo. A banner welcomes the Metro Red Line, celebrating its anniversary, while a crowd and trees are visible in the background, capturing a festive atmosphere. A group of five people poses together, all wearing white t-shirts featuring a Metrorail system map. The individuals include three women and two men, showcasing a diverse group. Their expressions range from smiles to laughter, reflecting a celebratory mood, in honor of the Washington DC Metro system's 50th anniversary. Two men smile while holding a large trophy, celebrating an achievement. The backdrop features the number 9 and 10, hinting at a Metro station. The event seems festive, likely in honor of the Metro system's 50th anniversary in Washington, DC. A smiling worker in a cap and gloves cleans a large glass window, creating a sparkling effect with soap suds, highlighting the dedication of staff involved in maintaining the Metro system. A group of diverse individuals wearing white hard hats with "M" logos, holding newspapers featuring the Washington Metro's history, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in Washington, DC. The photo captures a moment of pride and accomplishment in the development of public transit. A man in a uniform and cap writes on a clipboard while standing next to a Metro bus, capturing a moment from the early days of the Washington DC Metro system. A woman in a white shirt smiles while holding a Metro card on a train, with blurred passengers in the background and a view of trees outside the window. This scene reflects the history and usage of the Washington DC Metro system, celebrating its 50th anniversary. A retro robot character interacts with a crowd in a Washington DC Metro station, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system. The robot features a distinctive design with a large head and metallic body, while people watch curiously from the surrounding area. A smiling Metro worker in a light-colored uniform and a worn cap, standing next to equipment, embodies the spirit of service and dedication during the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system. Two men wearing white construction helmets with the Metro logo pose next to a collection of historical bottles. They are kneeling in front of a brick tunnel, showcasing remnants from the past during the excavation for the Washington DC Metro system. A crowd of diverse people, including children and adults, stands in front of farecard vending machines at a Metro station, listening to an employee in uniform explaining the fare system. The scene captures the busyness and excitement of public transit, highlighting the community engagement during the Metro's 50th anniversary celebrations. A black and white photograph of a man in a wheelchair on a Metro train, smiling while surrounded by seated passengers. The setting reflects the atmosphere of public transportation, highlighting accessibility and the diversity of riders.
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Illustration featuring a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables alongside packaged goods, promoting the Capital Area Food Bank’s message about hunger awareness. Text highlights the importance of food donations and volunteer work in the Washington D.C. region, serving Maryland and Virginia.
Concert poster for Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers featuring a colorful design with stars. Text highlights a Go-Go concert on May 22 at 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. Admission is $8, with doors opening at 9:30 PM. Location and ticket details are prominently displayed.
A paper grocery bag filled with fresh produce, including fruits and vegetables, set against a light blue background. The bag features the Giant Food logo prominently, along with the text "COUNT ON GIANT" and information about over 50 convenient locations in the Washington area, highlighting the store's commitment to quality and low prices.
A vintage-style advertisement promoting the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, highlighting Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) with the tagline "Two great airports. One commitment to getting you there."
A retro design featuring a sunset with bold text highlighting Maryland's attractions: "Maryland. We’ve got it together." Below are phrases promoting historic cities, quiet countryside, and Chesapeake beaches, emphasizing accessibility. The slogan "Maryland. You'll love it here." is at the bottom.
Virginia is for lovers. Text emphasizes the state's beauty and feeling, accompanied by a large red heart, promoting tourism in Virginia, highlighting the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in the Washington DC region.
A retro-style poster celebrating Washington, D.C., featuring the Washington Monument, the U.S. Capitol, and the Lincoln Memorial against a sunset backdrop. The text emphasizes experiencing the city's sights and spirit, highlighting its proximity and appeal.
A graphic promoting environmental conservation with a stylized globe held by hands, featuring the text "Our only home. Let’s keep it that way," and tips to ride Metro, avoid littering, and conserve water and energy. The design includes logos from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.
A promotional graphic featuring the text "It pays to read The Post" above a colorful rainbow arch, with the words "The Washington Post" in bold below. The design includes a dark background, emphasizing the bright colors of the rainbow and the message about the publication.
Graphic featuring the text “For Metro Transit News, Listen to WTOP News Radio” in bold, stylized typography. The background has colorful, wavy stripes in retro style, enhancing the celebratory theme for the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in the Washington DC region.
A promotional poster for the Smithsonian National Zoological Park, featuring a panda illustration, a bird, and bold text highlighting the zoo's mission of education and showcasing over 1,300 animals from around the world. Includes location details and operating hours.
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