Tracks Through Time: New Art Comes to the Morris Plains Station
If you've walked through the Morris Plains train station recently, you may have noticed something new — and not just inside. Our historic station and the spaces around it are now home to Tracks Through Time: Movement, History, and Human Connection, a new multi-site art exhibition brought to Morris Plains through the TRANSITional Art Project (TAP), a partnership between NJ TRANSIT and the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. This has been a long time coming, and we're proud to have played a part in making it happen.
How We Got Here
Back in early 2026, Downtown Morris Plains partnered with NJ TRANSIT to bring the TRANSITional Art Project to our borough as part of our centennial celebration. The idea was simple: Morris Plains is turning 100, our train station is a landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and public art has the power to turn everyday spaces into something more meaningful. It felt like a natural fit.
We put out the call for artists in the spring, seeking visual artists and photographers living or working in northern New Jersey — with preference given to those with a connection to the Morris Plains community. The response was strong, and the result is an exhibition that doesn't just live in one spot. It stretches across the station grounds, meeting commuters and visitors wherever they happen to be.
About the Exhibition
Tracks Through Time is made up of three distinct installations spread across the Morris Plains Station area. The exhibition reflects on 250 years of American identity and transformation, the historical and cultural significance of railroads, and the lived experiences of people in transit — both past and present.
Inside the station: A photography exhibition is on display in the station's Main Waiting Area, offering an intimate look at the themes of movement and connection.
The commuter underpass: Two murals are installed on either side of the underpass, on the overhang as you head down the stairs. If you use the underpass to cross between platforms, you can't miss them — they transform what's usually just a passageway into something worth pausing for.
The pathway to Speedwell Avenue: A third installation is located along the walkway connecting the train station parking lot to Speedwell Avenue, greeting commuters as they make their way between the station and downtown.
Together, the three installations invite you to slow down, look around, and connect with the space you pass through every day.
Why Public Art Matters Here
If you've been following along with our work at Downtown Morris Plains, you know that public art is something we care deeply about. We started small — with Speedy the Stone Snake, then resident-designed bike racks on Speedwell Avenue, and most recently, a new original mural in our downtown. Each project has reinforced what we've seen again and again: art makes a place feel more alive, more cared for, and more worth visiting.
The TRANSITional Art Project takes that idea and spreads it across one of the most-visited public spaces in town. The Morris Plains Station — designed by architect Frank J. Nies, built in 1915, and recognized for its distinctive brick construction and Spanish tile roof — is already a point of pride. Adding art installations inside the station, along the underpass, and on the pathway to Speedwell gives the entire station area a new layer of meaning, especially in a year when we're reflecting on everything that makes Morris Plains what it is.
A Centennial Milestone
This exhibition is one of several centennial projects that have brought our community together in 2026 — from an epic 100th birthday part to the Pumpkin Illumination to the downtown mural. Each one has been a reminder that in a small town like Morris Plains, community involvement makes a meaningful difference. Residents, business owners, volunteers, and local government all contributed to making this happen.
Go See It
Tracks Through Time is on display now at the Morris Plains Station, located at 673 Speedwell Avenue. Whether you're catching a train on the Morristown Line, cutting through the underpass, or walking from the parking lot into town, keep your eyes open — the art is all around you.
And if this is your first time hearing about the TRANSITional Art Project, you can learn more about NJ TRANSIT's broader Transit Arts program — which includes more than 150 art installations across the bus, rail, and light rail system — at njtransit.com/transitarts.
Here's to 100 years of Morris Plains — and to the art, history, and people that make this town worth calling home.
