Architectural Secrets of NYC

When you think of hidden tunnels in NYC, do you imagine of sewer tubes filled with graffiti or underground spaces filled with rubble and collapsed bridges? Despite the scenes frequently depicted in movies, many of NYC’s architectural secrets are less mysterious than you’d think.

Goldwater Hospital Complex

The hospital system on Roosevelt Island was built in 1939 and eventually specialized in caring for wheelchair-bound patients. Underneath the complex lies an extremely long basement tunnel that connects all six buildings. Staring down the corridor, your eyes are met with hundreds of feet of shiny gold tile, rusting pipes, and a colorful array of wiring.

East New York Freight Tunnel

Photo Courtesy of Joseph Anastasio for Untapped Cities

This tunnel you actually may have seen in movies or TV shows. Well-known to graffiti artists and explorers, this train tunnel now has only one active track used by a short freight train traveling between Fresh Pond yard and the Bay Bridge. It also has an abandoned platform that was a part of the NY & Manhattan Beach Railway.

Columbia University Steam Tunnels

No stranger to historical stories, some of these tunnels date back to before Columbia University existed and the campus was still the Bloomingdale insane asylum. The conditions of the labyrinth-like tunnels vary, with some seemingly well-maintained and others run-down from lack of use. Adding even more historical intrigue, some of the tunnels once led to the building where early research was done for the Manhattan Project.

The Atlantic Avenue Tunnel

Built in 1844, this abandoned LIRR tunnel is the oldest sub-street tunnel in North America. It was closed in 1861, until a Brooklyn trolley enthusiast, Bob Diamond, rediscovered the tunnel in 1981. He was able to give the public tours for years before the city deemed it unsafe. To this day, Diamond swears there is an old locomotive train behind a wall that blocks off a part of the tunnel.

While these tunnels don’t all necessarily mimic the image portrayed on the silver screens, they are seriously interesting parts of New York City’s history. The only thing that would make them better is if we could go exploring in all of them.

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