Urban Spelunking: Exploring the Forgotten City
SEPTEMBER 11, 2009
There's plenty to look at in the city, but do you ever wonder what's under it?
While any walk in New York City will yield a wealth of eye-catching sights, some people's curiosity doesn't stop there. Urban spelunkers (The word comes from Speleology, the scientific study of caves) risk possible arrest and at least the suggestion of danger to explore forgotten spaces and abandoned corners of the city's landscape. Not to be confused with the mythical "mole people" who have reportedly made their home in subway tunnels, urban spelunkers just visit, explore and document in the interest of experiencing parts of a city's history.
One young entrepreneur-cum-adventurer who goes by the name of Fluff McFluffster (his real name is Geoff) leads spelunking expeditions into these dark corners of the city. Trips have included Admiral's Row in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, an upper-west-side tunnel built by Robert Moses in the 1930s, and Seaview Hospital. He was recently featured in a segment of the G4 Underground video series. Julia Solis is another member of this unusual bridge-and-tunnel club. Ars Subterranea, the arts organization she founded, offers expeditions and events in forgotten spots like an unused Long Island Railroad tunnel under Atlantic Avenue and the Bronx Borough Courthouse. If you'd rather just admire the underground from the comfort of home, some stunning posters are available here (via undercity.org).
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