Book Suggestion: New York’s Secret Subway

 

Travelers come to New York City expecting iconic sights—Central Park, the Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty. But beneath Broadway lies a forgotten piece of history that’s just as compelling: America’s first operational subway, secretly built in the 1860s.

In his new book, New York’s Secret Subway: The Underground Genius of Alfred Beach and the Origins of Mass Transit (Island Press, Sept. 30, 2025), author and Kansas Public Radio host Matthew Algeo uncovers the true story of Alfred Beach, the visionary who built a pneumatic subway under lower Manhattan without the public’s knowledge. This marvel of Victorian engineering carried passengers smoothly beneath Broadway decades before the New York subway system we know today.

The project was bold, ingenious, and short-lived, ultimately crushed by Boss Tweed and the corrupt Tammany Hall machine. But its tunnels, technology, and dream of underground travel remain one of the most fascinating forgotten chapters of the city.

Explore New York’s hidden history and its travel-worthy stories in this great read.

Matthew Algeo is the author of several acclaimed histories, including Harry Truman’s Excellent Adventure (named one of The Washington Post’s best books of 2009), When Harry Met Pablo, and Abe & Fido. A seasoned broadcaster, he is currently the host of Morning Edition on Kansas Public Radio.