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Celebrating
America’s
Metro System

50 Years of Metro

In 1969, Metro broke ground on the first part of a new, modern transit system for the nation’s capital. In 1976, we welcomed our first customers on the Red Line. Fifty years, six lines, and billions of customers later, Metro has become an indispensable part of the DMV’s identity.

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Two smiling young people wearing retro jackets with buttons reading "I GET AROUND," set against a yellow background. Nearby, an old-fashioned Metro ticket showing "$4.00" and details about fares, along with a close-up of a tiled Metro station ceiling. The overall theme celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system.
A person adjusts a miniature model of a Metro station, showcasing figures and lighting elements, symbolizing the design and planning of the Washington DC Metro system for its 50th anniversary. The model is set under a glass dome, highlighting the architectural features and creativity involved in the project.
Black pennant featuring the Metro logo and the text "Takoma Welcomes Metro February 3, 1978," celebrating the Metro system's 50th anniversary.
Explore Pennants
A black and white photo features a person creating a model of a Metro station, with translucent domes overhead and silhouettes of figures. A golden rectangular panel is visible alongside the scene, likely representing a celebratory element for the Metro's 50th anniversary in the Washington DC region.
Black pennant featuring the Metro logo and the text "Takoma Welcomes Metro February 3, 1978," celebrating the Metro system's 50th anniversary.
Explore Pennants

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The Metro Owners Manual

In 1976, Metro published an owner’s manual to introduce the region to its new rapid transit system and how to use it. Updated versions followed as the system expanded.

To celebrate Metro’s 50th anniversary, we’ve recreated the “Metro Owner’s Manual” as a tribute to those originals. Take a look.

Cover of the "Metro Owner's Manual," featuring a dark image of a Metro train labeled "Special" with a conductor visible. The design highlights the 50th anniversary of the Washington, D.C. Metro system, showcasing key information on how to use the Metro. The text includes the authority's contact information at the bottom.

1976

Metro owner's manual cover featuring a colorful transit map with line designs in various colors; highlights the 50th Anniversary of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. The background is brown, and the text includes "this is your metro owner's manual" and "50th Anniversary Edition."

2026

Upcoming Events

Jun

25

A silver Metro train passes in front of a large, modern Ferris wheel with white passenger cabins set against a black background, symbolizing the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system.

America's Metro System Exhibit

The Great American State Fair at National Mall
June 25 – July 10

Jun

25

A red quarter-zip pullover featuring "1976" in cream lettering, paired with white shorts decorated with colorful designs resembling fare cards, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in Washington DC.

50 Years of Metro Pop Up

L’Enfant Pop Up, 300 7th St SW
June 25 – July 10 

Jun

25

A silver Metro train passes in front of a large, modern Ferris wheel with white passenger cabins set against a black background, symbolizing the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system.

America's Metro System Exhibit

The Great American State Fair at National Mall
June 25 – July 10

Jun

25

A red quarter-zip pullover featuring "1976" in cream lettering, paired with white shorts decorated with colorful designs resembling fare cards, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in Washington DC.

50 Years of Metro Pop Up

L’Enfant Pop Up, 300 7th St SW
June 25 – July 10  
Plan Your Trip
Plan Your Trip

Historical Archives

Two young girls, one in a red sweater, smile and hold a banner featuring the Metro logo along with pamphlets celebrating the Metro system's opening on March 27, 1976. They are part of a crowd at a festive event marking the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system, with adults in the background.
A black and white photo of an empty Washington DC Metro station under construction, featuring distinct vaulted ceilings, unfinished tracks, and scattered construction materials, highlighting the architectural design and early development of the Metro system.
A black and white photo of a Washington DC Metro train curving on an elevated track, with the U.S. Capitol building visible in the background, showcasing the significance of the Metro system's 50th anniversary.
A vintage black and white photograph depicting a futuristic Metro train model beside the White House, with four men in suits, one greeting another stepping off the train. The scene marks a significant moment in the history of the Washington DC Metro system during its 50th anniversary celebrations.
A diverse group of commuters inside a Washington DC Metro train during its early years, showcasing different fashion styles and expressions, reflecting the vibrancy of city life. The image captures a moment in the history of the Metro system, emphasizing community and daily transit experiences.
A person working on a model of a Metro train, focusing on the interior design and layout, with figures representing passengers and a detailed model environment in a workshop setting. The background features draped curtains, suggesting a staged or presentation area.
Interior view of a Metro station featuring a sales and information booth. Passengers in various outfits are seen checking schedules and interacting with the booth. The unique architectural design with its iconic panelled ceiling and warm color palette creates a vibrant atmosphere, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system.
Detailed artwork depicting the interior of a Metro station, showcasing an escalator area with various passengers, including a man in a suit and a woman carrying a briefcase. The station features a distinctive, geometric ceiling design and an inviting atmosphere. Ideal for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system.
Three passengers inside a Washington DC Metro train, smiling and observing a map of the Metro system. The interior is clean and modern, with light-colored seats. This black-and-white photo reflects the community's engagement with public transportation as part of the Metro's 50th anniversary celebration.
The interior of a 1970s Washington DC Metro train, featuring seated passengers reading newspapers, dressed in period attire. A conductor stands at the end of the car. The warm-toned decor reflects the design of the era, and a map of the Metro system is visible on the wall, celebrating the system's 50th anniversary.
Two operators are working in a control center, one on the phone while the other monitors multiple computer screens. In the background, a large clock shows the time as 17:59, and a whiteboard with handwritten notes is mounted on the wall, reflecting a busy environment related to the Washington DC Metro system.
A group of people, including a woman in a light trench coat and a man in a striped suit, pass through fare gates in a Metro station. Other attendees, dressed in 1970s fashion, look on, adding to the historic atmosphere of the event.
Interior view of a nearly empty Washington DC Metro train, featuring blue seats and modern design elements, celebrating the system's 50th anniversary. The focus is on the sleek, clean ambiance with illuminated signage and metallic finishes.
Two construction workers in hard hats examine blueprints at a transit site, with a partially completed station in the background. The setting includes machinery, a trailer, and trees, reflecting the development of the Washington DC Metro system during its construction phase.
A group of dignitaries and officials gather outside the Van Dorn Street Metro Station, holding scissors and preparing to cut a ribbon. The scene features banners celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system, with visible landscaping and a modern building in the background.
Black and white photo of people descending an escalator in a Metro station, some wearing hats. A person holds a sign reading "WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE RIGHT," emphasizing a rally or protest related to women's rights, reflecting social movements relevant to the Metro's 50th anniversary.
A Metro train operator hands a robotic character a stylized device at a Washington DC Metro station, surrounded by onlookers, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system. The scene highlights the intersection of technology and public transit in a historical context.
A group of six people gathered around a conference table, examining documents and a model train, likely discussing plans for the Washington DC Metro system, with maps displayed on the wall in the background. The scene captures a pivotal planning moment for the Metro's development.
Construction workers operate in a large underground tunnel during the building of the Washington DC Metro system, with equipment and scaffolding visible amidst the rocky walls and wet floor, highlighting the engineering efforts of the time.
A conceptual rendering of a modern Washington DC Metro station featuring sleek trains, passengers waiting on a landscaped platform, and a bright, airy architectural design with large white beams and clear blue skies visible above.
A black and white photo showing workers in hard hats assembling tracks for the Washington DC Metro system, with a train in the background. The scene captures the construction phase, highlighting teamwork and infrastructure development for the Metro's launch.
A group of students dressed in 1970s fashion, including skirts and suits, stands on a Metro platform in a vacant subway station. The platform features a distinctive textured wall, symbolizing the era of the Metro system. The photograph captures a moment in time, celebrating the history of the Washington DC Metro.
A vintage black and white photo showing a Metro train car being lifted on a platform near a railway track, with workers in hard hats observing and a bridge in the background, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system in the Washington DC region.
A large yellow banner reading "Chinatown Welcomes Yellow Line" spans across a street, with a vintage pickup truck parked nearby. The scene features the Metro logo and construction equipment, highlighting preparations for the Yellow Line opening in Washington, D.C. storefronts and a busy street are visible in the background.
Two young girls, one in a red sweater, smile and hold a banner featuring the Metro logo along with pamphlets celebrating the Metro system's opening on March 27, 1976. They are part of a crowd at a festive event marking the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system, with adults in the background.
A black and white photo of an empty Washington DC Metro station under construction, featuring distinct vaulted ceilings, unfinished tracks, and scattered construction materials, highlighting the architectural design and early development of the Metro system.
A black and white photo of a Washington DC Metro train curving on an elevated track, with the U.S. Capitol building visible in the background, showcasing the significance of the Metro system's 50th anniversary.
A vintage black and white photograph depicting a futuristic Metro train model beside the White House, with four men in suits, one greeting another stepping off the train. The scene marks a significant moment in the history of the Washington DC Metro system during its 50th anniversary celebrations.
A diverse group of commuters inside a Washington DC Metro train during its early years, showcasing different fashion styles and expressions, reflecting the vibrancy of city life. The image captures a moment in the history of the Metro system, emphasizing community and daily transit experiences.
A person working on a model of a Metro train, focusing on the interior design and layout, with figures representing passengers and a detailed model environment in a workshop setting. The background features draped curtains, suggesting a staged or presentation area.
Interior view of a Metro station featuring a sales and information booth. Passengers in various outfits are seen checking schedules and interacting with the booth. The unique architectural design with its iconic panelled ceiling and warm color palette creates a vibrant atmosphere, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Metro system.
Detailed artwork depicting the interior of a Metro station, showcasing an escalator area with various passengers, including a man in a suit and a woman carrying a briefcase. The station features a distinctive, geometric ceiling design and an inviting atmosphere. Ideal for celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Washington DC Metro system.
Three passengers inside a Washington DC Metro train, smiling and observing a map of the Metro system. The interior is clean and modern, with light-colored seats. This black-and-white photo reflects the community's engagement with public transportation as part of the Metro's 50th anniversary celebration.
The interior of a 1970s Washington DC Metro train, featuring seated passengers reading newspapers, dressed in period attire. A conductor stands at the end of the car. The warm-toned decor reflects the design of the era, and a map of the Metro system is visible on the wall, celebrating the system's 50th anniversary.
Interior view of a nearly empty Washington DC Metro train, featuring blue seats and modern design elements, celebrating the system's 50th anniversary. The focus is on the sleek, clean ambiance with illuminated signage and metallic finishes.
Two operators are working in a control center, one on the phone while the other monitors multiple computer screens. In the background, a large clock shows the time as 17:59, and a whiteboard with handwritten notes is mounted on the wall, reflecting a busy environment related to the Washington DC Metro system.
A group of people, including a woman in a light trench coat and a man in a striped suit, pass through fare gates in a Metro station. Other attendees, dressed in 1970s fashion, look on, adding to the historic atmosphere of the event.
Two construction workers in hard hats examine blueprints at a transit site, with a partially completed station in the background. The setting includes machinery, a trailer, and trees, reflecting the development of the Washington DC Metro system during its construction phase.
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