In recent weeks, a surge of viral videos claiming to uncover the mysteries of “Underground Chicago” has captured the attention of residents and internet users alike. Urban explorers, referred to as mischief-makers by some, have shared their exploits roaming below the city’s surface, reportedly discovering eerie tunnels and clandestine rave parties.
These latest video explorations depict what many believe to be an interconnected network of tunnels underneath the city, which once served as crucial transit routes for freight and coal. Yet, experts caution that the reality behind these stunning visuals may not align with the claims being made.
Chicago cultural historian Tim Samuelson remarked on the fascination surrounding the concept of hidden tunnels, stating, “The concept of something like that being built is so incredulous that you almost couldn’t believe it could happen.”
One particularly captivating video shows two men prying open a manhole cover near the former Thompson Center, now the Google Center, at 100 W. Randolph Street. As they descend a precarious ladder into the shadows, the video’s captions speculate wildly about finding strange caves below the bustling city streets. With nearly one million likes and over 11,000 comments, this post by Instagram user reichert.exploratory has stirred significant intrigue.
In another instance, a video by Instagram user redlinechicago boldly claimed, “We found an underground rave in the Chicago tunnels.” Garnering about 25,000 likes and more than 280 comments, this video features the explorers navigating dark passageways before allegedly encountering a radiant underground party.
Additional content circulating online shows familiar locations for Chicagoans. A Reddit post highlighted a crack in the concrete at the base of the LondonHouse building at Michigan Avenue and Wacker Drive, through which a glimpse of a red car was visible below. With over 42,000 upvotes, the astonishment expressed by onlookers indicates a curiosity about what lies beneath.
Famed for its existing subterranean routes, Chicago does offer Lower Wacker Drive alongside the Pedway system, familiar passageways for many locals. As one Reddit user humorously noted, “Did nobody ever watch Batman? Where do people think the criminal underground comes from?”
Despite the sensational claims in some videos, experts emphasize the lack of authenticity in these adventurous urban tales. Veteran explorers assert that the videos fail to showcase Chicago’s extensive freight tunnel network, which extends nearly 60 miles beneath the city.
These freight tunnels, which primarily served the transportation of coal and goods, were integral to Chicago’s infrastructure for half a century. Bruce Moffat, a former CTA employee and author of two books on the history of freight tunnels, quickly dismissed the viral videos upon viewing them.
Moffat asserted that, during his extensive experience exploring the actual freight tunnels, he never encountered locations resembling what was portrayed in the social media posts. He expressed disbelief at the accessibility shown in the videos, noting the absence of a proper manhole or ladder structure typical of this underground environment.
In Samuelson’s view, some of the video content may offer glimpses of sidewalk vaults, areas under the city’s sidewalks that were once used for freight before the transportation system evolved. While some vaults remain, many have been filled in over the years, resulting in limited accessible space.
Most notably, the videos likely do not depict the confined and dangerous areas beneath ComEd-operated manhole covers, which contain high-voltage electrical apparatus that the public should avoid. ComEd representatives assure that these spaces are controlled and restricted to trained professionals due to safety concerns.
Alongside the misconceptions of the underground realm, the actual historical significance of Chicago’s freight tunnels remains largely unknown to the public. As Samuelson explained, the existence of such a complex network just beneath Chicago without much awareness is astonishing.
The history of the freight tunnels dates back to 1899, when Illinois Telephone and Telegraph began excavating to lay conduits for the communications industry, a revolutionary step towards modern telephony. Following suit, the Electric Railway Co. established an extensive tunnel system designed for the transport of coal, as well as waste removal from city furnaces.
These tunnels, curvilinear and oversized for typical freight cars, spanned a considerable portion of downtown Chicago, reaching important city landmarks. In their operational prime, these tunnels facilitated the transported goods that formed the lifeline of the bustling city above ground.
However, as technology progressed and alternative transportation systems emerged, the unique tunnels could not adapt. By the late 1950s, freight transportation mayhem had shifted towards trucks, leaving the once-busy tunnels essentially obsolete.
After decades in disuse, the tunnels remain, entwined within the urban fabric. Different avenues for their potential future have been proposed, ranging from underground rail lines to speculative mushroom farms or bomb shelters, but none of these ideas have materialized.
The tunnels have captured the public’s imagination time and time again, not least of all during the 1992 flood, when construction activities compromised the tunnel walls and led to flooding from the Chicago River.
An incident that illuminated the underbelly of urban life, the 1992 flood resulted in mandatory evacuations of nearby offices as water surged into tunnels that had been quiet for years. Moffat vividly recalled the scene, describing how the streets turned deserted except for the sound of pumping equipment.
While several access points exist for those curious about the tunnels, obtaining entry to the freight tunnels is strictly controlled, especially after increased security measures post-9/11. Today, these ancient pathways are inspected regularly, with ComEd manhole covers not leading to the tunnels but rather enclosed spaces with dangerous electrical equipment.
Samuelson concluded by highlighting human curiosity and the allure of uncharted spaces. Despite efforts to control access, urban explorers persist in seeking out these hidden, often dangerous pockets of history beneath the concrete city streets. The ongoing fascination with Chicago’s underground only continues to deepen, fueled by the narratives and myths surrounding the tunnels—and by those adventurous souls who venture into the unknown.
image source from：chicago
