Northern Arizona University student Nikki Charnstrom last fall began to hear about tunnels that snaked under downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, including Route 66.
But finding information about the Flagstaff tunnels proved more difficult. In an interview in Flagstaff Business News:
“Everyone I asked said no, they didn’t know about the tunnels, so it sparked my interest in forgotten history. That’s what motivated me to begin my journey of this project,” said Charnstrom. The underground labyrinth has been rumored to house Chinese opium dens, bordellos and smuggling rings during Arizona’s early territorial days.
Many of those stories about the tunnels turned out to be urban legends. Their purpose was and is much more benign — a place to run utility lines or steam for heating — than fevered speculation.
Those myths being dispelled didn’t stop Charnstrom from producing this seven-minute film about the Flagstaff tunnels. You’ll see a few Route 66 landmarks, including the historic Monte Vista Hotel:
I think many people would be surprised to know how many cities have tunnels. Tulsa holds tours of its downtown tunnels periodically. Chicago sports a bunch under the Loop. Oklahoma City‘s tunnels are downright celebrated. Los Angeles has them, too. St. Louis tunnels always were there because they are natural caves.
Even smaller towns such as Carthage, Missouri, have tunnels, although Carthage’s is the remnants of a quarry.
(Screen shot of one of the Flagstaff tunnels from the “Forgotten Underground” film)
Tulsa had a few pedestrian tunnels to serve children who had to cross busy highways to get to school. One was on US 66 just east of Yale, serving Franklin Elementary School. Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps show some of the tunnel entrances.
Joplin, Mo has had a web of tunnels snake’n all over the community since the days of mining and, as you porbably guessed, the majority of the tunnels were mine related formations whose locations were lost to poor record-keeping. During the 1953-54 Regional Drought, cracks appeared in Main Street wide enough you could slide you hand into the cracks sideways. These openings were caused by the earth’s movment due to shafts having been filled-by-nature’s water; During this period, they moisture completely evaporated.
There was a looooong rumored tale of a tunnel from the fancy Connor Hotel to the nefarious building across the street, The House of Lords.
Another tunnel supposedly linked the First National Bank building with another downtown location.
Further towards the old Route 66, were/are structures that offered commercial sites on the ground floor and above – residential rentals. A school friend of mine, who lived over-a-store as a child, told me he had played and explored a couple of tunnels beneath Joplin’s Main Street near his parent’s apt — close to 7th St. / which would hae been Route 66.
Regardless, if these exist or are figments, the allure of ‘I WONDER…’ is part of the magic of history, discovery and factual recording the Tunnel Sagas for future generations.
there is some sort of tunnels under first baptist church on 7th and pearl ( now the county owns)
Dallas, Texas has a pedestrian highway of tunnels. Some are so a dump truck can be driven thru them if need be. There are small shops underneath that sell food, clothing and etc
You can go down on Elm street for instance and come up several streets over such as on Commerce or Young St.
The wife use to go down during her lunch hour ,and she said it was amazing at the people that got lost own there. It would take hours to get some of them back to their starting point
The storm drains are a whole different tory