Metro Center was one of the original 6 stations to open with the first section of the Red Line on March 27, 1976.

Jackson Graham, the WMATA general manager at the time, agreed, and gave Herman twenty seconds to come up with a better name.

[2] The upper level with the Red Line opened on March 27, 1976 with the rest of the initial segment from Farragut North to Rhode Island Avenue-Brentwood.

The lower level opened on July 1, 1977 with the initial segment of the Blue Line from Reagan National Airport to Stadium-Armory.

[3] A pedestrian tunnel to nearby Gallery Place–Chinatown has been proposed to connect all six Metro lines within fare control.