Tracing the Freedom Tunnel: Riverside Park History & Hidden Rails
Details
Distance: About 8 miles, with optional exit points at nearby subway stations (116th, 110th, 103rd, 96th, … and 72nd).
Meeting point: In front of The Forum at Columbia University
Transportation: Take the 1 train to 125 St.
Ending point: The corner of 72nd Street and Riverside Drive
We’ll walk through Riverside Park from 125th Street down to 72nd Street and explore the history of the legendary Freedom Tunnel. We won’t enter the tunnel, but we’ll see where the trains go in, look at old railway structures and ventilation shafts, and follow traces of NYC’s former West Side Line. Along the way, enjoy the park’s scenic paths and imagine the tunnel’s past life as a spot for graffiti artists and urban explorers.
Please note that we’ll finish between 1:00 and 1:30 pm. There is no lunch break, so bring your own water and snacks.