The station was built by the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT) as part of the Dual Contracts with New York City, and opened on July 1, 1918.

[6] It was predicted that the subway extension would lead to the growth of the Lower West Side, and to neighborhoods such as Chelsea and Greenwich Village.

[9][11] The new "H" system was implemented on August 1, 1918, joining the two halves of the Broadway–Seventh Avenue Line and sending all West Side trains south from Times Square.

[12] An immediate result of the switch was the need to transfer using the 42nd Street Shuttle in order to retrace the original layout.

The station is served by the 1 at all times[17] and by the 2 during late nights;[18] the center express tracks are used by the 2 and 3 trains during daytime hours.

Beige I-beam columns run along the entire length of both platforms with every other one having the standard black station name plate with white lettering.