City Hall station closed permanently in 1945 after being difficult for modern trains to use.
The original IRT City Hall station opened in 1904 beneath City Hall Park and was designed with an elegant curved platform, decorative Guastavino tile work, skylights, and chandeliers. Its tight curve became a practical problem as subway trains grew longer and their doors and car geometry changed.
Rather than rebuild the station, the transit system closed it to regular passenger service on December 31, 1945. The nearby Brooklyn Bridge–City Hall station could handle passengers on the same general route and had more useful operational characteristics.
The station is not demolished. Trains on the 6 service pass through the loop, and riders can sometimes remain aboard after the final stop to view the preserved interior. It is distinct from the later City Hall complex serving other subway lines.