In this episode, we dive beneath the streets of 19th-century New York with historian and author Matthew Algeo, exploring the daring story of Alfred Beach, an inventor, visionary, and early advocate for urban mass transit. Algeo’s latest book, New York’s Secret Subway, uncovers the forgotten tale of Beach’s experimental pneumatic subway, a marvel of engineering and audacity, built decades before the first official subway lines opened in New York City. Together, we explore Beach’s ingenuity, the political and social hurdles he faced, and how his underground dream set the stage for modern urban transportation. This is a story of innovation, stubborn ambition, and the hidden history beneath one of the world’s greatest cities.

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THIS WEEK'S THE COLLECTOR.COM'S ARTICLE SELECTION: 

1. The Gilded Age in America
2. Top 10 Historic Sites to See in New York City