In the Freedom Tunnel

Built in the 1930s under the direction of Robert Moses, the Freedom Tunnel runs from 125th to 72nd Street under Riverside Park. Until 1991 it was used as a homeless encampment, but after Amtrak resumed service through the tunnel it was completely cleared-- fifteen years later, the detritus of human habitation still haunts the place, but no one lives there. The walls of the tunnel are famous among graffiti-cognoscenti-- skylight grates every twenty or thirty feet create sun-lit exhibition spots. Deep inside the tunnel you can find some classic pieces by Freedom (whose nom de guerre gives the tunnel its name), Twist, Revs, Cost, and Sane/Smith-- and more recent stuff from Kuma and Deuce Seven.

Comments

[Steve]

Cool. I never knew about this tunnel. And isn't that first photo a portrait of DB Cooper??

[jellis]

I'm in Riverside Park pretty regularly and, hearing the rush of the train underneath, I always wondered what was down there. Fantastic shots, Jake. And I love the idea of the grates creating exhibition spots. Awesome.

[Steve]

Oh, no, that's the Unabomber. My bad.