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Chronicling America is a searchable digital collection of historic newspaper pages through 1963 sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
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Also, see the Directory of U.S. Newspapers in American Libraries, a searchable index to newspapers published in the United States since 1690, which helps researchers identify what titles exist for a specific place and time, and how to access them.
A stellar feat of technology, the Boston Subway, the first of its kind in the United States, brings about a new way of life to America. Accidents, explosions and death, however, also accompany the early days of Boston’s Underground Railroad. Read more about it!
The information in this guide focuses on primary source materials found in the digitized historic newspapers from the digital collection Chronicling America.
The timeline below highlights important dates related to this topic and a section of this guide provides some suggested search strategies for further research in the collection.
| September 1, 1887 | First segment of Boston Subway opens; first subway in U.S. |
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| December 15, 1887 | Boston Subway reported a failure. |
| March 4, 1897 | Escaping gas in Boston Subway during construction creates havoc; many killed by explosion; half a hundred injured. |
| July 24, 1901 | Boston Subway’s traffic impact noted to be causing social changes. |
| June 21, 1903 | Boston’s historic landmarks obliterated by Boston Subway and other innovation. |
| October 27, 1904 | New York Subway opens as biggest subway in the world; 2nd subway to open in the U.S. |
| December 1904 | Boston Subway extends under harbor to East Boston; longest underwater railroad track in the world. |
| June 6, 1906 | Fire and Explosion on the Boston Subway for unknown reason, women dragged to safety; high fear of electrocution. |
| December 10, 1910 | John F. Donahue commits suicide by jumping in front of moving train. |
| June 17, 1912 | Boston Subway workers go on strike for union recognition. |
| July 21, 1919 | Subway workers strike for an eight-hour day and higher wages. |
| December 23, 1921 | Main power line of Boston Subway explodes right during Christmas holiday. |
