Ever since I moved to Brooklyn last November, I've been meaning to pen a post about one of the borough's biggest secrets. But now I find that the intrepid explorers at Curious Expeditions have beaten me to the punch! Blast you and your fabulous blog!
Visit their site, and you'll find the amazing story of the world's first subway--a nearly two hundred-year-old forgotten tunnel beneath one of the busiest streets in New York City--and the fearless teenager who discovered it. Here's a little taste . . .
In the early morning of 1981, [19-year-old Bob] Diamond stood on the corner of Atlantic Ave and Court St, looking down at a small smooth manhole. The manhole looked unlike any others laid down by the city. . . Diamond opened the manhole, dreams of the tunnel dancing in his head, but a foot beneath the opening was a solid floor of dirt. It looked like he was wrong.
Or was he?!?
Today, you can visit the tunnel Diamond discovered. Even more exciting, a large section of it remains unexplored. And many believe it may contain a 170-year-old train--as well as a few other treasures. (According to CE, "River pirates, bootleggers, mountains of treasure, John Wilkes Booth’s lost diary, and even “Persian Vampires" [have been] said to live within the mythical tunnel.")
Enjoy!
UPDATE: More about the tunnel in the 2/15 New York Times!
WAY TOO COOL! It reminds me of the New Yorkers tossing their subway cars into the ocean. :)
ReplyDeletecool! By the way, if you want another tunnel-ey underground book, try Tunnels by Riderick Gordon and Brian Williams. Its more fantasy than fact, but its really good! Not to be disloyal to the Shadow City or anything :)
ReplyDeleteMan, I wish the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were real. Their hideout in the second movie, The Secret of the Ooze, was pretty awesome.
ReplyDeleteI know it seems ridiculous,but I'd like to discover something mystical and supernatural,and if this tunnel is my ticket,I'll have to put it on my agenda to write a very,very,very long thank you letter.
ReplyDeletewhat?? where is this tunnel??
ReplyDeletetotally irelevant, but---- Kirsten- I live in Tucson, AZ and next month there is going to be a book fair with a bunch of authors. I was wondering if you were going to or might consider spending a few days in really nice warm weather..... maybe come and have a book signing or something... well, anyway, just a suggestion. Tucson deperately needs someone to spread some kiki around.
ReplyDeletesick! that's just like the book!
ReplyDeletetotally awesome...
My real name is Brooklynn. I've always wanted to go there and explore my namesake (:
ReplyDeleteWOW!
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it's connected to the Shadow City in any way . . . they said it wasn't all explored, right? Can't you just SEE the giant deaf rats waging turf wars with vampiric Persian cats? :0
ReplyDeleteYeah Kristen! Maybe u could come to Vermont sometime! We need some more kiki!
ReplyDeletego vt!
ReplyDeleteKiki
Oh LA LA!! new setting for Kiki Strike 4????????????????
ReplyDeletePLEASE come a pay a visit (north) across the border!!! CANADA LOVES YOU!!!!
Sometimes I wished I lived in New York...
ReplyDeletegosh! i think bob diamond and i are related (i don't know half of my relatives)! we share the same last name, which is why i'm going anonymous.
ReplyDeleteI nickname myself kiki
ReplyDeletekiki
WOW!!!!!!! This is why I want to become an archaeologist!! That's just so cool!!!
ReplyDeleteSweet! I'd love to explore them.
ReplyDeleteThat is sick!!! Im going there.
ReplyDeletePersian vampires. Teeheeheeheehee.
awesome
Kitty: Sometimes?! xD
ReplyDeleteBob Diamond... some how I wonder if he was actually the first or if there was some un-recorded exploration by a certain albino elf who stalked the hoodlums of central park.... ;)