Most people wouldn’t expect to see Romanesque Revival architecture, fancy pants Guastavino tile, and brass chandeliers in a New York City subway station, but the City Hall stop (opened in 1904) along the Lexington Avenue Line features all that and more. Longer trains, longer platforms, and low ridership caused the city to close it off to the public in 1945, but its elegant architecture has endured for over seventy years. You can still catch a glimpse of it while rounding the loop heading back uptown, or during a tour (book ahead). We felt inspired by the ghost station to take a look at other secret stops along the underground: houses, societies, and entire cities. Head past the break to explore unusual underground marvels around the world.
Derinkuyu
The underground city of Derinkuyu in Turkey is just one of many subterranean networks in the historical region of Cappadocia — thanks to its soft volcanic rock — but that doesn’t make it any less impressive. Eleven stories deep and with the ability to house up to 50,000 people, Derinkuyu is believed to have been a haven for refugees and religious purposes, first built around the 7th/8th centuries B.C. [Image credit: willunderground]
Comments (2)
I think you missed the Cu Chi Tunnel Complex in South Vietnam. Not only is it fascinating from the historical point of view (how it helped Viet Nam win the war and all), but a true lesson of strength of will of the vietnamese.
i’m personally very excited for the delancey underground: http://delanceyunderground.org/ underground park by the ppl who brought us the high line? yes please!
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