Bob Diamond's famous Atlantic Avenue Tunnel tour has started up again, after a hiatus of roughly five years. Diamond discovered the long-lost tunnel -- which runs under Atlantic Avenue between Boerum Place and Hicks Street) in 1981, after hearing about the legend of a Civil War era rail tunnel on a radio show. After an eight-month search (during which he was repeated advised by City officials to give up on his lost cause) he struck gold -- uncovering, intact, the world's first subway tunnel.
Diamond is Brooklyn's keeper and historian of this historic, cave-like expanse. Down in it's cool, otherworldly recesses, he tells of its building (by hundreds of Irish workers in seven months, including one murder), how it was used and where it led, and what may lie under the unfinished end.
Call 718-941-3160 to reserve a spot on a tour. See the video for a snippet of Sunday's excursion. (These tours are for the relatively hardy. Wear sneakers and bring a powerful flashlight.) Also, visit the web site of Diamond's Brooklyn Historic Railway Association.
UPDATE: The Brooklyn Eagle has more about the tunnel and this tour here.
FURTHER UPDATES:
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Is Probably Haunted
- What's Behind the Wall? Atlantic Ave. Tunnel Mystery
- Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue Tunnel: What's Behind the Wall?
- Let Them Laugh: Bob Diamond's Brooklyn Trolley Idea Gains Traction
- Mole People Back in Brooklyn?
- Lineup For Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tour
Photos and video by MK Metz
Sunday, July 22, 2007
Brooklyn Spelunking: Atlantic Avenue Tunnel Tours Return
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2 comments:
I clicked the link to this page from the more recent article just now and much to my surprise, found myself in your picture! 3rd from the right, how funny. I was unknowingly in an underground tunnel with a person whose blog I read regularly! What an absurdly small world!
PS I'm glad to now have proof that I went on this tour way before it was "cool," after finding a tattered old flyer taped to a bulletin board outside of the buildings next to fairway.
Pointslope -- Love it when things like that happen. Brooklyn is great that way. And yes, this photo is confirmation that you were there way before the masses.
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