Subterranean Scandals: Brooklyn’s Secret Tracks and Transit History

Janes Walk

Led By Christa Avampato, Creator, Producer, and Host of NYC's Secrets & Lies

Descend into the hidden history of the world’s largest rapid transit system without ever leaving the sidewalk. This self-guided tour of Downtown Brooklyn reveals the political feuds, secret platforms, and engineering feats that built the subway. Trace the path of historic tracks, identify invisible infrastructure hiding in plain sight, and uncover why some stations were built but never used for regular service. You will learn to see the vents and grates of the city as storytellers of a vast subterranean world. The route is a compact loop of approximately 0.8 miles, taking about 60 minutes to complete. Access your digital field guide and historical photos at nycsecretsandlies.com. Perfect for transit enthusiasts and fans of urban history who want to see the city from a new perspective.

Accessibility

The walk is mostly along sidewalks though there are some uneven surfaces.

Location Information

RSVP is required and capacity is limited. Meeting location, ending location, and directions will be provided via email before walk date.

self-guided

On Demand
1 hour

Borough: Brooklyn
Theme: Environment, History & Culture
Language: English
Passengers board the New York City Transit Authority subway. Photo: the National Archives, Erik Calonius. Modifications: photo cropped.