OT - Do you know about the Tunnels?

[Mr. E]

Question for the locals here. Did you know that there is a tunnel system which connects many of the buildings in downtown Houston?

I just got off the phone with a client who's lived here for almost 20 years and had no idea about them. I've met a lot of people over the years who are from here but didn't know about them.

This is Houston, Texas, people! You think that people downtown want to walk outside in the heat & humidity???

[czarleon09]

If you don't live or work downtown I could see how you could not know about the tunnels in downtown. Once I park downtown I do my best to avoid sunlight and heat by using the tunnels

[HTown4Life]

there's also food too.

[KiDdFrESh]

Hell Ive lived here all my life and had no idea. Tell me more.

[zapatasblood]

I know about the Tunnels but I have no clue where they are.

[College Boy]

Yeah I could definitely see how some one would not have heard about them if you're rarely downtown. But I went down there as a little kid. And of course I thought they were going to be real tunnels that someone dug out like gold mines or something. Ahh to be young and dumb again...

[HTown_TMac]

wait, what?

really?

[Mad Mike]

downtown tunnel system is like the best kept secret of houston. Not many people know it unless you walk around downtown. You can enter it from the wells fargo plaza or street level escalators. Many different shops and restaurants down there.

http://www.marketscenter.net/ext/houstondowntown/

[Mad Mike]

there is also a real tunnel that you can drive through that connects Pasadena to galena park. Its called washburn tunnel and its on clinton and federal.

[Ribalding]

3 years ago, I was called for jury duty with a lady who had lived in the Woodlands for 23 years. She left the Woodlands at 4:30 A.M. to get to jury duty on time BECAUSE SHE HAD NEVER BEEN TO DOWNTOWN HOUSTON.

23 years. Never downtown.

But she had lots of opinions about Houston. Of course.

[DickMotta4Prez]

They've got tunnels in downtown Dallas, too. Lots of folks are ignorant to their existence. There's actually some debate on whether they deplete street traffic and if they should be filled in. Honestly the heat, humidity and constant stench of urine and panhandlers keeps foot traffic down. Dallas's tunnels are lame the last time I ventured down there. How are Houston's?

[Ribalding]

Dallas's tunnels are lame the last time I ventured down there. How are Houston's?

Lame. But air conditioned.

However, if you're very knowledgeable or very lucky, you can find yourself in the basement of the Central Library Julia Ideson Building Texas Room & Archives. Unknowingly popping up in the rotunda of that wonderful old building for the first time makes you feel like an extra in Raiders of the Lost Ark....or maybe National Treasure if that movie didn't suck so bad.