Why Chicago's Secret Tunnel Got Paved Over

The LaSalle Street Tunnel in Chicago, completed in 1871, was one of the city's earliest subterranean infrastructure projects, designed to alleviate congestion and provide a crucial crossing under the Chicago River. The tunnel, constructed by the private LaSalle Street Tunnel Company, was initially intended for pedestrian and carriage use, facilitating easier movement between the north and south sides of the city. However, the tunnel faced numerous challenges, including frequent flooding and structural issues exacerbated by the city's growing industrial demands. By the early 20th century, with the advent of more advanced transportation options, the tunnel became obsolete and was eventually closed in 1939. Its legacy remains a fascinating glimpse into the early engineering feats that shaped Chicago's urban landscape.

IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

» CONTACT

Video Chapters:
0:00 The History of the Lasalle Street Tunnel
0:39 Chicago's Washington Street Tunnel
3:27 Constructing the Lasalle Street Tunnel
5:27 Surprise Opening Shocks Chicago Residents
7:24 Chicago is Engulfed in Flames
8:08 Challenging Accessibility & Lazy Lake Captains
10:22 Tunnel Reconstruction Complications
12:32 Automotive Revolution Sealed the Lasalle Street Tunnel's Fate

» CREDIT
Scriptwriter - Ryan Socash,
Editor - Karolina Szwata,
Host - Ryan Socash
Music/Sound Design: Dave Daddario

» NOTICE
Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.

[stephenmoerlein]

I lived in Chicago several years, and was totally unaware of these pedestrian/cart tunnels. Thanks for the education on their transient existence!

[Greezy]

I especially love photos and illustrations of the downtown lake front in various stages of development. You should do a video about "the evolution of Chicago harbor"

[dtrocchio]

Thank you so much for continuing to highlight some of the more obscure and interesting parts of Chicago history.

[Ddrhodes]

I remember my grandmother mentioning how she used to take the trolley on Washington under the river. Apparently before 1939. At the 3:34 mark, the location you point to is incorrect. The “LaSalle” names at that point are referring to the LaSalle St Metra station, the LaSalle Blue line station and the LaSalle/Van Buren Loop station. The LaSalle tunnel was further north where the street crosses the main branch of the river. You mention the tunnel entrances are paved over but at Kinzie looking south down LaSalle, there is a ramp going down to parking garages right where the north tunnel entrance would be. Repurposed tunnel entrance? (Check Google Maps street view)

[pilsudski]

There's streetcar tunnel under the river on Madison Street too. We used to go though it on the Madison/5th Ave streetcar when I was a little kid.

[movietrain]

There is a hatch that is still used to enter the tunnel - you just need to know where to look and yes it’s locked. I was in there about 10 years ago.

[CarbonSpire]

I used to live in Brooklyn and would often switch from local to express trains at Hoyt-Schemerhorn. This station had the typical 4 sets of tracks for folx to switch from local/express in both directions... But there was an additional/platform set of tracks one either side of the used platforms.In 10 years, I never saw anyone on those outer platforms or a train on those outer tracksuit seems like a great abandoned priced of infrastructure for you to explore. I'd love to know the history of those abandoned routes.

[patirvin-bzpg]

I was expecting to hear about the tunnel flood of 1992 when workers accidentally broke through a wall. Basements of local stores like Marshall Field's were flooded with river water and had fish swimming in them. They tried emergency measures like stuffing in mattresses to block the hole.

[flickrjazz]

Horse carts? Wagons? The smell in the tunnel must have been horrifying.

[Jscribe]

I grew up in the burbs and spent a lot of time in the city, but I never learned about the tunnel until I was in my 40s. As an aside, the Sanford map you use to illustrate the location of the tunnel, it shows what is now Hubbard St. as being named Michigan at the time. hmm That means at one time it was possible to stand at the corner of Michigan and Michigan.

[WillHellmm]

I've lived in Chicago for nearly all my 23 years, never new about these tunnels. Ive always known of the pedway, but this is something else

[AndyMcCarthy-czdj]

First of all, love your channel.
Second I believe the Map in the “constructing LaSalle Street Tunnel “ part of the video is incorrect. You’re pointing to, what is Congress today, which is south of the east west segment of the river that you’re talking about. You also mentioned it had to connect Randolph and Lake, which run parallel to each other and would not have a tunnel between them at any location unless they have changed the names of the streets since than. I think you meant to say lake and Kinzie. The fire map you show in “ surprise opening shock Chicago residents “ shows this very point.

Again love your channel.

[JoseMartinez-dfdb]

As a Native Chicagoan I grew up knowing this. Because of this tunnel the city also built the Chicago Pedway which is still in use today. The Chicago Pedway connects many of the buildings in the Loop.

[fficialdregs]

My mom used to work for patrick engineering and would tell me all the tunnels and stuff in the city.
I love the pedwalk connected to TJ Maxx that leads to Randolph Street Station

[howwedodaley]

Who build the buildings ? They are incredible circa 1870. We lost so much craftsmanship in 150 years. 😢

[jebstewart]

love the flash frame at around 10:41 "copywright by t.a. edison 1897"

[bradfordbarrettluckotheIrish]

Wonderful history. I had no idea. I used to work at 17 East Monroe Street.

[sail]

Awesome video. I wasn't aware that there was ever a LaSalle St. tunnel. i wonder if any of the underground walkways have closed off access to this tunnel.

[James-trvv]

There weren't many boats that went to the Mississippi river. The connection between them was the Illinois and Michigan Canal that linked Lake Michigan with the Illinois River. The Illinois and Michigan Canal ran from a connection with the south fork of the south branch of the Chicago River near present day Archer Ave and Ashland Ave. The anal ran roughly 96 miles to a connection with the Illinois River. The I & M canal opened in 1848 and was completely out of use by 1948 when the Sanitary and Ship Canal opened to allow bigger boats.
Early boats using the I & Canal were pulled by mules using pathways along the canal. Most of the I & M Canal still exists but only from Willow Springs to LaSalle. The portion of theI & M Canal that was in Chicago ran in the area of I-55 from Ashland Ave out. What helped it the I & M Canal out of usage was railroads, namely the Chicago Rock Island and Pacific which never reached the Pacific Ocean.
What helped the railroadssucced was speed. A train could travel the 96 miles on hours verses days on the water.
What is like to know is how Wacker Drive became to have an upper and lower section.
Chicago's location at the mouth of the Chicago River at Lake Michigan is why it grew so quickly. Though sand and limestone still come up into Chicago not much else does. Oil stops near Romeoville for the refineries there.
The Sanitary & ship canal links the Des Plaines river just northeast of Joliet with the Chicago River just north of Archer Ave. And a bit east of Ashland Ave. The Sanitary & Ship Canal connects with the Cal Sag Canal or Channel northeast of Illinois 83 and 107th street. Believe the Cal Sag channel runs between the Calumet River on Chicago's south side and the Sanitary & Ship Canal.

[ILLAILLS]

I literally work on this street and never knew. I knew that the streets were elevated but this is cool