135th Street

135th Street sits under St Nicholas Avenue in central Harlem, in the part of the neighbourhood long tied to the Harlem Renaissance and to Black scholarship and culture. Right by the station is the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, one of the world's great archives of the African diaspora, which gives this stop a real sense of place beyond its everyday role.

Served by the A, B and C trains on the Eighth Avenue line, it is a practical local stop that carries residents from the surrounding brownstone blocks straight down the West Side into Midtown and beyond.

Station Overview

The station opened in 1932 as part of the Independent Eighth Avenue subway and sits in Zone 1. It is served by the A, B and C trains running north-south along St Nicholas Avenue. Facilities are modest, with a staffed booth, toilets and the usual OMNY and MetroCard equipment at the fare gates.

Lines and Connectivity

The C train is the local that stops here through the day, running down to Midtown, Chelsea and Lower Manhattan before crossing into Brooklyn. The B adds weekday service toward Midtown and the Bronx, while the A express serves the station during select hours. Northbound, the trains carry on toward Washington Heights and Inwood at the top of Manhattan.

Station Layout and Structure

This is an underground station with side platforms for uptown and downtown trains, so choose your direction before passing through the gates. Entrances come up around 135th Street and St Nicholas Avenue, close to the Schomburg Center and Harlem Hospital. OMNY readers and MetroCard machines are at each entrance.

Accessibility

This station has step-free access with lifts connecting the street, mezzanine and platform levels, which helps wheelchair users, people with prams and travellers with luggage or heavy bags. Lifts occasionally close for maintenance, so check the MTA live status before you travel if step-free access is essential.

Travel Tips

• Confirm whether you need the local C or the A express before boarding, as the A skips several uptown stops at certain hours.
• The Schomburg Center is right by the station and free to visit, with exhibitions on Black history and culture.
• Tap in with OMNY or swipe a MetroCard. The fare is flat, so a long ride downtown costs the same single fare as a short one.

Nearby Attractions

Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture - right by the station. A renowned research library and cultural centre with exhibitions, readings and an archive of the African diaspora.

Harlem Hospital Center Murals - a short walk. The hospital holds a celebrated collection of WPA-era murals by Black American artists, a landmark of public art.

Strivers' Row - about 6 minutes on foot. The elegant 138th and 139th Street rows of townhouses, among the finest historic architecture in Harlem.

Abyssinian Baptist Church - roughly 8 minutes on foot. One of Harlem's most historic churches, known for its gospel services and community history.

Timings and Best Time to Travel

Service here runs 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, with less frequent trains overnight. Weekday rush hours bring the biggest crowds, while midday and weekends are quieter, which suits a relaxed visit to the Schomburg Center and the historic streets nearby.