New York City is filled withhidden gems , from a small lighthouse in Fort Washington Park to a burial site tuck away in the East Village . One of the urban center ’s well - keep back secret is site in one of its oldest and most far-famed landmarks . Beneath theBrooklyn Bridgesits empty vaults that were used to stack away wine-coloured a 100 ago , consort toNPR .
The Brooklyn Bridge’ssecret wine cellarsare build into the ramps lead to the East River on both the Manhattan and Brooklyn side . They ’re not life-sustaining structural features that serve a treble purpose ; the only reason they ’re there is for alcohol storage .
When main span engineerWashington Roeblingincluded the bank vault in his design , he was being diplomatical . The proposed path of the span cut through two liquor - sell governance , Rackey ’s Wine Company in Brooklyn and Luyties & Co in Manhattan . By include storage cellars for both in his plan , Roebling was able-bodied to keep them glad and generate revenue for the grammatical construction at the same time .
Several concern lease out the vino cellars after the Brooklyn Bridge was built in the 1870s . Though they were locate beneath one of the most heavily traffic spots in the metropolis , the vault stayed dark and nerveless year - troll , which made them idealistic for cache even the most expensive vintage wine . shortly , murals of pipeline and French street name were add to the walls to brighten the dreary space .
The cellars survivedProhibition — and were evenrepurposed as undivided speakeasiesfor New York ’s upper crust — but their Clarence Day as alcohol storage terminate after World War II . They ’re used to store maintenance equipment for the metropolis today , though they have been opened to the public for more fun social function over the twelvemonth , such as art appearance .
Many fascinating keepsake from New York City story are close to the public . The New York Public Library does n’t give up most the great unwashed to confabulate itssecret apartments , though a lucky few have been invited to peek inside .
[ h / tNPR ]
