Abandon Tunnel in Providence

Started by Villain, April 15, 2011, 02:48:23 PM

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I just want to say that I am excited to be here.  I love urban exploring. 

Anyway,

I work in Providence.  One of my colleagues who went to Brown once told me that he visited a tunnel in Providence near the train station.  It is NOT the Gano St. Train tunnel.

Supposedly there are body casts of people hanging from the ceilings in contorted shapes.  He told me a story that a RISD professor found this tunnel back in the 80s? and turned it into an urban art gallery for only a few to see. I've searched high and low on the internet for any hints or tips to where it may be...no luck.  My friend moved back to California a little while back.  He's told me in great detail about it, but he doesn't remember the exact location "unless he saw it".  I was wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this.

Now, if anyone has ever taken the train from Providence, it makes sense that there could be an "offshoot" tunnel underneath the station where you pick up the train.   

Any ideas?

Just poking around I found a video of the Gano St. tunnel from 1987 but no luck on the mysterious second tunnel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxzOZ-OGUEc
I hide in the shadows and babble about old things.  I appear to most new members of IB.  I might beat you with my cane.

http://adventureswithmeg.weebly.com
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http://meganmcgory.com

Quote from: Megster on April 15, 2011, 03:37:05 PM
Just poking around I found a video of the Gano St. tunnel from 1987 but no luck on the mysterious second tunnel.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxzOZ-OGUEc

wow, that tunnel looked a lot different back then. 
I'll email my friend to see if i can get more details.

Since he has no clue where this magical mystery tunnel is might it be possible that it is the gano st tunnel? Sounds like the most logical explanation to me. It's been the site of a few hipster artsy fartsy projects I think.

If it's a train tunnel (you didn't specify) just go to historicaerials and look at the tracks for a tunnel that "isn't there" anymore near the station.

That's what I did, didn't find anything.  There is also the old trolley tunnel that's now used by buses, but that's never been abandoned.  The Gano St. tunnel was sealed off in the mid-90s and it's a mile long so it's very possible.
I hide in the shadows and babble about old things.  I appear to most new members of IB.  I might beat you with my cane.

http://adventureswithmeg.weebly.com
http://meganmcgory.smugmug.com
http://meganmcgory.com

It's not a train tunnel, it's a drain.  The art project got removed a couple years ago, so it's not really all that worth it anymore unfortunately.


Oh wow surprised to see you back again!  Thanks for the clarification.  Are these all the pics you have of it?
I hide in the shadows and babble about old things.  I appear to most new members of IB.  I might beat you with my cane.

http://adventureswithmeg.weebly.com
http://meganmcgory.smugmug.com
http://meganmcgory.com

Thanks a lot for the clarification.  I've talked to a lot of people and no one has ever heard about this.  maybe one day I'll throw some bucket pants on and check it out. 

Unit is right, it's a drain, and everything from inside has pretty much been removed.
One cool part about it is, at the end of the drain, you can look up and watch the trains going by over your head.
It's been known to Abandoned Dreams for a few years now, and we've since dubbed it TapeArt Tunnel. Here's a few shots of the inside

















Look closely, the ceiling is carved


Look closely, and you can see the stings where the mannequins were hung

tooma trip down there recently.. pretty kewl spot. tried getting through that drain, but there was 2 much water

Quote from: sewerRat21 on May 08, 2011, 07:56:43 PM
tooma trip down there recently.. pretty kewl spot. tried getting through that drain, but there was 2 much water

Don't waste your time. It doesn't lead to anything

isnt that always the case with drains lol 218 in pawt was pretty  cool though

Ademan,

really cool photos.  Providence has a bunch of weird shit. One of the best parts of exploring is sometimes seeing the art.


I've heard of other places where RISD kids go and paint art -- old slave tunnels from the 1700's supposedly exist under Benefit Street.  Well, that's what someone told me once who worked at the Providence Historical society. 

Yes, being involved with historical societies also gives you access to the coolest things.  And when you hold an office in one you even get access to things in other towns.  :wacko:
I hide in the shadows and babble about old things.  I appear to most new members of IB.  I might beat you with my cane.

http://adventureswithmeg.weebly.com
http://meganmcgory.smugmug.com
http://meganmcgory.com

i guess i should take more of an interest in old things then

Quote from: sewerRat21 on May 11, 2011, 07:18:09 PM
i guess i should take more of an interest in old things then

Everyone should take more of an interest in old things.

Quote from: Villain on April 15, 2011, 02:48:23 PM
I just want to say that I am excited to be here.  I love urban exploring. 

Anyway,

I work in Providence.  One of my colleagues who went to Brown once told me that he visited a tunnel in Providence near the train station.  It is NOT the Gano St. Train tunnel.

Supposedly there are body casts of people hanging from the ceilings in contorted shapes.  He told me a story that a RISD professor found this tunnel back in the 80s? and turned it into an urban art gallery for only a few to see. I've searched high and low on the internet for any hints or tips to where it may be...no luck.  My friend moved back to California a little while back.  He's told me in great detail about it, but he doesn't remember the exact location "unless he saw it".  I was wondering if anyone else has heard anything about this.

Now, if anyone has ever taken the train from Providence, it makes sense that there could be an "offshoot" tunnel underneath the station where you pick up the train.   

Any ideas?


I use to Tow for the Rhode Island State Police,,, I once had to pull (drag) a stolen car from the tunnel off off Gano street,,,, I then went to the other tunnel, with a State Trooper to look for a second car (wasnt there ) any way         Check behind the "Providence Art Club" on Thomas st.
Almost sure the door is welded shut now and there is no way in.
Stacy and Todd, Hikers, Explorers, Adventure seekers,,,

the tape art tunnel is short and doesnt connect to the tain tunnels that i found yet. the east side train tunnel is still open on the gano st side.
both are pretty cool  :mellow:

None of the tunnels connect. One is a train tunnel, one is a bus tunnel, and one is a drainage system.

Don't lie . . they all connect, and lead up to the hospital !

Quote from: donnabhain on June 04, 2011, 11:44:56 AM
Don't lie . . they all connect, and lead up to the hospital !

Shhhh! Now all the taggers and ghost hunters are gonna wanna see it.

Quote from: Option 7 on June 02, 2011, 08:18:10 AM
Check behind the "Providence Art Club" on Thomas st.
Almost sure the door is welded shut now and there is no way in.
This is the benefit street tunnel, I'm fairly sure it is the same as the Gano St tunnel - and yes, it is welded shut (or was as of a couple months ago).

Quote from: sophie on May 24, 2012, 03:57:26 PM
Quote from: Option 7 on June 02, 2011, 08:18:10 AM
Check behind the "Providence Art Club" on Thomas st.
Almost sure the door is welded shut now and there is no way in.
This is the benefit street tunnel, I'm fairly sure it is the same as the Gano St tunnel - and yes, it is welded shut (or was as of a couple months ago).

the tunnel runs from Gano to Benefit. lol they are the same. still  damn good time though!

Could anyone please pm me the location of #218??  I have been trying to find it for awhile now with no luck : (

Outfall 218 is in Pawtucket. I don't know the exact address, but if your free some time I'll take you there

Tunnels in Providence


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When I loved on benefit street from 1969 to 1971. There were many slave tunnels that ran from the river up to a few places on the east side.  One rant to the house I lived in.   One ran to what eS then known as the Geary Mansion. Another rant to another house that was torn down to build one of the buildings at Brown. I think it was the engineering bldg or education building.  Not sure.  There was a bus tunnel that went UNDER Benefit street  and about 100 yards in to the tunnel there was an old iron door that had a huge area that was reputed to have been a selling stage and a couple of tunnels running down to the river.  The  river has been moved twice since those days and I am not sure if the tunnels or how many of the tunnels still exist.   RISD. Bought the old Stone Bank building, so I would check out the old bus tunnel  it's the next street/ hill to the left of the gold domed ex bank building.  There was a tunnel that went in the direction of that building so likely that a RISD professor could have discovered it.  Back then I had a book that had a map of the slave tunnels of Providence and the east side.  I don't know who it was published by,  but after exploring quite a few,  I think you probably are speaking about one of those and not a train tunnel


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