Our multi-layered city has lower levels of streets in some parts of the Loop and River North because it allows easy access for freight transport and trash disposal. Movies like The Dark Knight and The Blues Brothers have immortalized these dark concrete spaces. Afterwards, the city installed watertight bulkheads to seal off the underground freight and cable car tunnels tunnels. The Uptown tunnels are just part of the roaring ‘20s Chicago story. Underground wins Concierge Favorites Award 2020! Underground the streets of Chicago, below the Pedway and below the underground streets, you will find the sewers. You can also read overlooked stories from 19th-century newspapers on my “Second Glance History” blog. This new digital platform could solve that. Some sections, like East Randolph near Maggie Daley Park, which we spot during our Architecture Tour for Design Lovers, are even triple-decked. The four TARP tunnel systems capture and convey combined sewage and stormwater to the Majewski Reservoir, Thornton Composite Reservoir and McCook Reservoir (Stage I). I’m thrilled to share my love of this city’s busy past and unique architectural spaces with Chicago Detours. I love to imagine what originally happened inside old unmarked buildings, and what forces have shaped their design. We did […] I love to learn new aspects of Chicago’s rich history and then share my knowledge as a tour guide with Chicago Detours. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, the vibrant history and modern majesty of Chicago never ceases to amaze. It inspired the construction of the London Post Office Railway. I live in River North. I love to learn new aspects of Chicago’s rich history and then share my knowledge as a tour guide with Chicago Detours. A construction crew accidentally broke a hole in one of the tunnels in the early 90’s. So I decided to share my knowledge of the system via a new map. In addition to guiding tours, I’m a creative writer and amateur genealogist. The need for this kind of coordination was made evident in April 1992 when a crew digging in the Chicago River struck an old freight tunnel , spilling thousands of gallons of water. When people think of Chicago architecture it’s very likely their first thought is of soaring skyscrapers. As a tour company, we spent ten years leading curious people on walking tours of Chicago’s exciting and unexpected places, including the Pedway. Forgotten underground: Incredible pictures of Chicago's abandoned, labyrinth tunnels once used to transport coal, ventilate movie theaters and hide phone cables. You meet the tour guide for this particular tour - Chicago History/Pedway tour, at 111 E. Wacker Dr. So mysterious! In the days of the Prohibition, Chicago gangsters like Al Capone used underground tunnels … When people think of Chicago architecture it’s very likely their first thought is of soaring skyscrapers. I’m in the Edgewater neighborhood. The mostly underground system is essentially a basement (see the area by Macy’s pictured here). Most of the Pedway System is underground, and the heated passages make for a comfortable way of navigating the city during the cold of the winter and the heat of the summer. That, in turn, make the street-level less crowded. Thanks for watching the vid crazy content coming soon so subscribe They offer other tours too, I believe. The Chicago Tunnel Company was the builder and operator of a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow-gauge railway freight tunnel network under downtown Chicago, Illinois. The least-known or understood feature of the Chicago underground would be the TARP system, better known as the Deep Tunnel. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of West Avondale. If you still want to do a tour of just the Pedway rather than explore using our map, I recommend Margaret Hicks of Chicago Elevated. The most user-friendly layer of Chicago’s underground is the Pedway System, which we explore on our Loop Interior Architecture Tour. You can also use our handy Pedway map to explore this essential layer of underground Chicago. That hole happened to be below the Chicago River, near the famous Kinzie Street Bridge. But the architecture of underground Chicago is fascinating and essential in its own right. When people think of 1920s Chicago, stories of bootleggers, speakeasies and Al Capone naturally come to mind. In addition to guiding tours, I’m a creative writer and amateur genealogist. This pad is the launching point for 14 miles of tunnels that will be drilled directly under Yucca Mountain. I’m a fifth generation Chicagoan and a graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. While some suspect that the Chicago Pedway System involves underground tunnels that connect buildings downtown, really they are not tunnels but passages, like hallways, that create a network between buildings and places of transport. in Interdisciplinary Art. The tunnels will measure 24-30 feet in diameter for some and 16-18 feet in diameter for others. Especially on a cold snowy day like today (perfect for […] I live in the northern neighborhood of Rogers Park. It generally follows the course of the rivers. The city of Chicago may soon be welcoming a new underground attraction to its mix. in Interdisciplinary Art. Virtually unknown layers of tunnels, passages, sewers, pipes, and other infrastructure criss-cross below the city. The Chicago Pedway is a network of tunnels, ground-level concourses and bridges connecting skyscrapers, retail stores, hotels, and train stations throughout the central business district of Chicago, Illinois.. With a length of more than 40 downtown blocks, it contains shops, restaurants, and public art and helps pedestrians in inclement weather. (please) MASSIVE Abandoned Factory! With the Chicago Detours map, we hope to offer a helpful guide with the user experience in mind. Savvy Chicagoans and visitors can make their way around the Loop without ever emerging above ground. “You can TELL Amanda is hyper-passionate about doing the research and getting the story that nobody’s heard before.”, Best Stops for Student Performance Groups in Chicago, Five Ways to Appreciate Chicago’s Historic Buildings, Four Female Architects Who Shaped Chicago, Sip Hot Chocolate in These 4 Historic Spots, Discover the Traces of Military History in Chicago, Take a Free Self-Guided William LeBaron Jenney Walking Tour. I’m a graduate of Columbia College with an M.A. In the city that lives by the mantra of “make no little plans,” the city has undergone one of the largest and longest civil engineering projects in American history. West Town/Noble Square area is home for me. You’ll find better architectural eye candy on street-level. After cable service ended they would be used by electric streetcars. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park. Chicago Detours now offers Virtual Experiences for public and private groups. It has cost billions and taken decades to construct the Deep Tunnel. “You can TELL Amanda is hyper-passionate about doing the research and getting the story that nobody’s heard before.”, 1920s Towers of Downtown Chicago and the Oddities of Zoning Laws, Four Female Architects Who Shaped Chicago, Sip Hot Chocolate in These 4 Historic Spots, Best Chicago Books for Smart Holiday Gifts, Take a Free Self-Guided William LeBaron Jenney Walking Tour. I am a model railroader, building dioramas of sections of the Tunnel in 7/8n2, and I have written two articles on my modeling for the magazine “Narrow Gauge and Short Line Gazette” (Sept.-Oct., 2010 and Nov.-Dec., 2011) with a third article in progress. This project will eventually cover some 70 acres of surface and underground facilities. I’m a graduate of Columbia College with an M.A. The Pedway , a network of pedestrian tunnels that run beneath the Loop , … I live in the incredibly diverse neighborhood of Albany Park. 2. My desire to learn new things fuels my passion for educating others, which I get to experience every day as a Chicago tour guide. She’s super sweet and knows every inch of the system. Commissioned in the … Beneath the towering skyscrapers of Chicago’s Central Business District lies the Pedway, an intricate system of walking tunnels and overhead bridges linking more than 40 blocks and covering roughly five miles. It funnels storm runoff into huge tunnels 300 feet underground. A few maps were out there, including one designed by the city that hasn’t been updated since 2007,  showing just the location of the passages, which isn’t enough to help the user confidently enter unfamiliar buildings to access this system of passages that go both underground and above street level. I studied Cinema History for my M.A. That’s thanks to the Pedway, one of the most-visited parts of subterranean Chicago. As tour guide at Chicago Detours, I integrate my enthusiasm for culture and architecture with my passion as an educator. With our Chicago neighborhoods, vibrant cultural institutions and nearly two centuries of larger-than-life stories, there’s never a dull moment here! It is incredibly rewarding to give back to this wonderful city by helping out in the office of Chicago Detours. The tunnels are forty feet under the surface of the streets. Functionally, the Pedway is a collection of basement-like hallways which connect buildings, train stations, and underground parking structures in the Loop. Chicago has so many neighborhoods, buildings, and by-ways that it’s hard to go long without seeing something new, or something familiar from a new angle. The point of the tunnels is to minimize the risk of flooding as well as improve the quality of water in surrounding rivers. The address is clearly marked, just a little east of Michigan and Wacker. Virtually unknown layers of tunnels, passages, sewers, pipes, and other infrastructure criss-cross below the city. With our Chicago neighborhoods, vibrant cultural institutions and nearly two centuries of larger-than-life stories, there’s never a dull moment here! The Chicago Detours Pedway map, in addition to showing the passages, marks all stairways and buildings that connect with the Pedway to explicitly show where people are permitted to enter a building. He clearly knows his history and it shows.”. The Pedway, open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays, links ov… New adventures coming all the time so please subscribe Music https://soundcloud.com/kid_rambunk/alone Although largely unseen, the Deep Tunnel is one of Chicago’s largest public works projects. from the University of Chicago. I am a graduate of UIC where through the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, began my eagerness to understand the nature, history and impacts of urban planning and development. I’m thrilled to share my love of this city’s busy past and unique architectural spaces with Chicago Detours. Our team at Underground makes hospitality and your guests our number one priority. “Sonny was extremely knowledgeable about all things Chi-town.”, “Alex was fascinating to listen to. Check out the two-page map and you’ll find where to access the 40-plus-block-long network of passages, the disparate open hours for different sections, and tips on navigating the system. in US History from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and then pursued doctoral studies in Urban History at the University of Illinois at Chicago. in the Humanities at the University of Chicago. Alabama. I have an MA in Public History from Loyola University Chicago, and I have worked as a museum educator and kindergarten teacher. ), let’s consider the (mostly) dry and warm spaces below our feet. A few maps were out there, including one designed by the city that hasn’t been updated since 2007, showing just the location of the passages, which isn’t enough to help the user confidently enter unfamiliar buildings to access this system of passages that go both underground and above street level. Along with the Pedway and the Blue and Red ‘L’ lines sits a set of abandoned freight train tunnels. The tunnels are often underneath existing waterways, like the Chicago River. Newer and cheaper infrastructure passed them by in the 1950s and people began to forget they were even there. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kDgmQ8NQJyg ABANDONED ARSENAL! As a fourth generation Chicagoan, I have been living and loving Chicago by bike, on foot, public transit or automobile. But the architecture of underground Chicago is fascinating and essential in its own right. Chicago is unique as it always evolves into the future while holding on to the past. Our New Chicago Pedway Map. I am a graduate of UIC where through the College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs, began my eagerness to understand the nature, history and impacts of urban planning and development. Two were built for pedestrian and horse traffic and later converted, the third was built specially for cable-cars. TARP includes four tunnel systems totaling 109 miles of tunnels, 8 to 33 feet in diameter and 150 to 300 feet underground. The route ventures into building interiors and uses the Pedway to stay indoors. The Underground Movement to Map Subterranean Chicago Cities often don’t know where all their pipes and cables are. Most cities have as many rats as human residents, if not more. As tour guide at Chicago Detours, I integrate my enthusiasm for culture and architecture with my passion as an educator. with increased capital, to operate jointly with the Chicago Warehouse and Terminal Company. As a fourth generation Chicagoan, I have been living and loving Chicago by bike, on foot, public transit or automobile. The Deep Tunnel Spanning 110 miles, this is one of the largest and longest civil engineering projects in American history, and most Chicagoans don't even know that it exists 365 feet below them. It is incredibly rewarding to give back to this wonderful city by helping out in the office of Chicago Detours. I live in the Chicago neighborhood of Lincoln Park. from the University of Chicago. The runoff is stored there until it can be treated. My love for stories was enriched by my B.A. Chicago is unique as it always evolves into the future while holding on to the past. What’s really exciting about the Pedway is the discovery that the city is navigable in spaces under our feet. It’s about uncovering the unseen layers of the city. In business since 2010 we bring curious people to explore, learn and interact on live, virtual events of Chicago history and architecture. My love for stories was enriched by my B.A. Whether you are a first-time visitor or a lifelong resident, the vibrant history and modern majesty of Chicago never ceases to amaze. I have an M.A. But even locals often do not know exactly why this part of underground Chicago exists when we visit a section on our Historic Chicago Walking Bar Tour. Water came pouring into the tunnel and caused massive flooding in basements throughout downtown. Guests on our Loop Interior Architecture Walking Tour often ask ‘Where do we get a map?’ I had come to know the Pedway system “inside and out” while designing our tour. The tunnel is more than 10,000 feet long and is still in existence, but the city refuses to comment on its exact location or current usage. I’ve worked for many years as an educator at City Colleges of Chicago. There is no shortage of things to discover in Chicago—I love being an urban explorer and uncovering its hidden places. 5th Avenue North Tunnel, Birmingham.Completed in 1909, this road tunnel runs beneath the former Birmingham Terminal Station site, now occupied by the Red Mountain Expressway. You never quite know what’s underneath your feet in Chicago. “Sonny was extremely knowledgeable about all things Chi-town.”, “Alex was fascinating to listen to. With the help of some great designers, I decided to create a new Chicago Pedway map. The Pedway provides a convenient escape from Chicago’s challenging weather. 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