Minneapolis Underground

From aerial view to underground, we provide all perspectives on Minneapolis. The public works department created this glass plate negative to document their construction of the city’s network of sewer tunnels. This shows an undisclosed location underground. Note the train tracks. Trains were used to haul debris out of the tunnels while they were under construction.

My tremendous thanks go to Eric Christenson, Dan Wilhelmsen and Chad Davis for their work locating and digitizing these images. This group of citizen-researchers has reminded me of the importance of digging below the surface in search of compelling historical narratives. And they have inspired me with their willingness to do the demanding work involved.

From a glass plate negative, public works collection,  tower archives, Minneapolis city hall.