This station opened in 1919 as part of the Interborough Rapid Transit Company (IRT)'s Pelham Line.

[8][9] The extension was originally supposed to be finished by the end of 1918, but due to the difficulty in acquiring materials, the opening was delayed.

In January 1919, the New York State Public Service Commission was looking into acquiring property for a subway yard at Pelham Bay Park.

[2] On May 30, 1920, the Pelham Line was extended to East 177th Street,[9][10][11] with the extension being served by a shuttle service operating with elevated cars.

Express trains ran during weekday rush hours and on Saturday morning in the peak direction.

[12] Express service did not start until this date because of the increase in ridership from the huge Parkchester housing complex at East 177th Street.

[14][15] On April 12, 1978, following president Jimmy Carter's visit to the nearly-destroyed Charlotte Street neighborhood nearby, his administration announced that it would allocate $55.6 million to help rehabilitate the blighted South Bronx between then and September 30.

[18] On November 18, 2014, a $17.8 million project to make the station compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 was completed, and the reconstructed entrances and fare control area opened to the public.

[26] The track walls have geometric Squire Vickers-designed mosaic friezes in muted shades of blue, grey and beige, with occasional sections of pale pink.

In a design that is not common in the subway system, the street-level facility, street stair enclosures, and lights are all made of bricks.

A twisting staircase goes up to a street-level steel and glass structure, where exit-only turnstiles provide access out of the station.