Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Scooped! The Lost Tunnel of Brooklyn



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!

20 comments:

Nellie said...

WAY TOO COOL! It reminds me of the New Yorkers tossing their subway cars into the ocean. :)

Hidden said...

cool! 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 :)

Meredith said...

Man, I wish the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles were real. Their hideout in the second movie, The Secret of the Ooze, was pretty awesome.

Dakota Blue said...

I 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.

Thumb Biter said...

what?? where is this tunnel??

hopeful in az said...

totally 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.

Anonymous said...

sick! that's just like the book!
totally awesome...

Brooklynn said...

My real name is Brooklynn. I've always wanted to go there and explore my namesake (:

UU said...

WOW!

Anonymous said...

I 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

Anonymous said...

Yeah Kristen! Maybe u could come to Vermont sometime! We need some more kiki!

Anonymous said...

go vt!


Kiki

KieL said...

Oh LA LA!! new setting for Kiki Strike 4????????????????

PLEASE come a pay a visit (north) across the border!!! CANADA LOVES YOU!!!!

Kitty said...

Sometimes I wished I lived in New York...

Anonymous said...

gosh! 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.

Anonymous said...

I nickname myself kiki




kiki

Irregular Kiki said...

WOW!!!!!!! This is why I want to become an archaeologist!! That's just so cool!!!

Hazel said...

Sweet! I'd love to explore them.

Anonymous said...

That is sick!!! Im going there.
Persian vampires. Teeheeheeheehee.
awesome

liltomboyblue said...

Kitty: Sometimes?! xD

Bob 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.... ;)