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Northern Arizona University student Nikki Charnstrom last fall began to hear about tunnels that snaked under downtown Flagstaff, Arizona, including Route 66.
But finding information about the Flagstaff tunnels proved more difficult. In an interview in Flagstaff Business News:
“Everyone I asked said no, they didn’t know about the tunnels, so it sparked my interest in forgotten history. That’s what motivated me to begin my journey of this project,” said Charnstrom. The underground labyrinth has been rumored to house Chinese opium dens, bordellos and smuggling rings during Arizona’s early territorial days.
Many of those stories about the tunnels turned out to be urban legends. Their purpose was and is much more benign — a place to run utility lines or steam for heating — than fevered speculation.
Those myths being dispelled didn’t stop Charnstrom from producing this seven-minute film about the Flagstaff tunnels. You’ll see a few Route 66 landmarks, including the historic Monte Vista Hotel:
I think many people would be surprised to know how many cities have tunnels. Tulsa holds tours of its downtown tunnels periodically. Chicago sports a bunch under the Loop. Oklahoma City‘s tunnels are downright celebrated. Los Angeles has them, too. St. Louis tunnels always were there because they are natural caves.
Even smaller towns such as Carthage, Missouri, have tunnels, although Carthage’s is the remnants of a quarry.
(Screen shot of one of the Flagstaff tunnels from the “Forgotten Underground” film)
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