Discovering the Forgotten Infrastructure: The Thrilling World of Urban Exploration
Urban exploration, or urbex for short, is the practice of exploring and photographing abandoned urban areas. While many people may think that urbex is limited to old factories and buildings, there’s an entire world of forgotten infrastructure just waiting to be explored.
From tunnels and bridges to aqueducts and canals, these structures were once integral parts of our cities but have since been forgotten or repurposed. Exploring these forgotten pieces of infrastructure can provide a unique perspective on history, architecture, and engineering.
One often-overlooked piece of infrastructure is the canal system that was once used to transport goods across the United States. At one point in time, there were over 4,000 miles of canals throughout the country. These canals were used primarily for transportation but also played a key role in providing water power for mills and factories.
Today, many of these canals have been filled in or paved over. However, some still remain intact and are open for exploration. The Erie Canal in New York State is perhaps one of the most famous examples. Running from Albany to Buffalo, the canal was completed in 1825 and revolutionized transportation in New York.
Another example is the Chesapeake & Ohio Canal which runs between Washington D.C. and Cumberland Maryland. Built between 1828-1850 as part of an ambitious plan to connect western markets with eastern ports via a continuous inland waterway stretching from Pittsburgh Pennsylvania all the way down into Virginia near Norfolk along what would become known as “The Great Kanawha River Navigation.” The C&O Canal operated until 1924 when it was replaced by railroads.
Tunnels are another form of infrastructure that provide unique opportunities for exploration. These tunnels could be built for various reasons including transportation (railways), water supply systems (aqueducts), sewage conduits (sewers) or even just pedestrian passages under busy streets!
In London England you can find an extensive network of tunnels that were constructed during World War II as air-raid shelters. The Churchill War Rooms, located beneath the streets of Westminster, served as the command center for the British government during the war.
Another example is the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City which connects New Jersey to Manhattan. Completed in 1937, it was one of the largest engineering projects of its time and remains a vital transportation artery today.
Bridges are also a form of infrastructure that offer spectacular views and unique exploration opportunities. Many bridges have been repurposed or abandoned over time, making them ideal locations for urbex enthusiasts.
One such bridge is the Old Seven Mile Bridge in Florida Keys, which spans seven miles between Marathon Key and Pigeon Key. Originally built in 1912 to transport workers to a railroad construction site on Pigeon Key but eventually converted into a highway before being replaced by a new bridge further offshore In 1980s.
Another example is Cincinnati’s Roebling Suspension Bridge, completed in 1866 and designed by John A. Roebling who would later go onto design Brooklyn Bridge NYC at age 60 after recovering from decompression sickness while working on this bridge project . It was initially used primarily for pedestrian traffic but now serves as both vehicular & pedestrian traffic across Ohio River connecting Cincinnati with Covington Kentucky.
Finally, aqueducts are another form of infrastructure that can provide unique insights into history and engineering. These structures were used to transport water from one location to another often times over great distances via gravity alone!
In Rome Italy you will find some amazing examples like Aqua Claudia (48 AD) & Anio Novus (52 AD), which transported water from distant mountain sources through underground channels known as “specus” before ultimately arriving at public fountains throughout city where citizens could get their daily supply
Exploring these forgotten pieces of infrastructure can be both thrilling and educational. It’s important to remember, however, that urbex comes with risks and should be done safely and responsibly. Always obtain proper permissions when necessary and never enter a structure that is unstable or unsafe.
As we continue to evolve our cities, it’s easy to forget the infrastructure of the past. But by exploring these forgotten pieces of history, we can gain a better understanding of how our cities were built and where they came from.