Jenna Fox 
Northern Virginia commuters know we would be, quite literally, nowhere without public transit. From the familiar chime of closing doors to the ever-useful Trip Planner, Metro is part of daily life across the DMV. This year, the system is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and locals can mark the milestone in person with a special exhibit on the National Mall from June 25th through July 10th. Read on for more about what to expect at this special exhibit about the DC Metro’s 50th Anniversary.
About the Exhibit
The 50th Anniversary exhibit is part of the Great American State Fair. The Metro exhibit will show the Metro as it was in 1976, including a refurbished Series 1000 rail car, which was the original rail car on Metro. According to organizers, “Metro’s five decades of service to the National Capital Region will be highlighted in the exhibition through historic photographs and artifacts, interactive displays, educational activities, multimedia experiences, and explorations of the future of transportation and mobility. The exhibition connects Metro to the broader story of American infrastructure, accessibility, innovation, and growth.”
This is a fun opportunity to see what Metro used to look like while celebrating its 50th birthday. Metro will release a special commemorative SmartCard in honor of the event. These special cards will be available at seven stations: Metro Center, L’Enfant Plaza, Navy Yard, Smithsonian, Union Station, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, and Washington Dulles. The closest Metro station to the exhibit is L’Enfant Plaza, which serves the VRE and Green, Yellow, Blue, Silver, and Orange lines.
The Fairfax Girl visited the exhibit and was interested to see what the original rail car looked like. The orange carpet is a far cry from the clean and modern 8000-series cars we’re used to today. The two cars, original and current, were displayed side-by-side so visitors could get the full effect.
About the Metro
The idea for an urban railway system in Washington first came about in 1946, when several engineers proposed a system for DC that would be similar to the rail systems in Boston and Philadelphia. In 1960, Congress passed a law creating the National Capital Transportation Agency (NCTA) to shepherd the project through. Several different proposals were shared, and in 1968, a plan was approved that became the blueprint for the Metro.
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The DC area metro opened 50 years ago in 1976 with one line – the Red Line. It served five stops before adding more Red Line stops, and in 1977, the Blue Line opened, followed by Orange in 1978. The Yellow Line came along in 1983, and in 1991, the Green Line opened. Work on the Silver Line began in 2014, and was completed in 2022.
Today, the metro and its bus system serve 98 stations (not including future Purple Line additions) and 126 bus routes. Metro also has paratransit, which helps connect everyone, regardless of mobility status, to Metro services.
“For half a century, Metro has been the connective tissue of our region and supported its growth and economic vitality,” said WMATA Board Chair Valerie Santos. “We’ve carried billions of people from presidential inaugurations to World Series celebrations, from the surge of Cherry Blossom visitors each spring to the sea of red, white, and blue each Fourth of July. Metro has moved not just crowds, but history itself. Just as importantly, Metro is woven into the rhythm of everyday life, carrying people to work, to friends and family events, concerts and restaurants, healthcare, education, and community.”
Since its opening, Metro has transported over 10 million passengers. Metro Rail is the nation’s second-busiest heavy rail transit service, and Metro Bus is the sixth-largest bus network.
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