Twin Cities Tunnel Pirates
A special production of Alaska
Urban Exploration.
Click Here for a list of recent updates.
Warning! I got apathetic about updating, so there's not much actually "recent"!
Arr maytes, welcome to yet another Twin Cities exploring site! This
here page is brought to ye by Freak
of Alaska Urban Exploration. After moving to the flatlands I decided to
put up my local photos and stories in their own section, rather than trying
to shoehorn them into my existing site. This page will highlight some of
my investigations into local industrial history and explorations of forgotten
buildings and tunnels in Minnesota, as well as some of those other little
flat states nearby. If you happen to be totally new to this whole concept
of UE, you might want to check out a few of the sites listed in my links
section, especially Infiltration.org.
Due to a hard drive failure, more than a month's worth of photos have been
lost, so some sites are missing or not completely documented at this time.
I will try to return and take more photos when I have time.
Butt Grove Valhalla
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Unique features, awesome photo-ops, killer design, and a challenge
to find. Simply stated, one of the most amazing and feature-filled drains
in the Twin Cities area. A wake-up call to those who say "drains are boring". |
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Boring Tunnel Machine
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This thing is truly boring, really disinteresting in fact. I'd say
give it a pass unless you like driving mine trains around or tunneling
your way into people's basements for a laugh. We wouldn't do that though,
it would be unethical or something. |
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Lucky 13 Drain
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A typical MNDOT deep drain tunnel, with some interesting side passages
leading to a variety of abandoned tunnels and features. |
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Carlizzle Tower
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Fo Shizzle, the Carlisle condo high-rise was a pretty sweet construction
site while it remained accessible. After a full cardiovascular workout
to reach the roof, one was rewarded with some unique top-down views of
downtown Minneapolis. |
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Scala Cave
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"Paris style" may be the Cliche here, but an Italian-style aqueduct
in St. Paul? We had to go all the way to Naples, Italy to understand the
purpose behind this mystery. |
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Eastman Tunnel
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Long thought lost to flooding or collapse, a section of this very historic
tunnel still exists beneath the Mississippi River. |
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Chute's Cave and Tunnel
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One of the many "natural" caves encountered by tunneling projects around
the Twin Cities. Also one of the most researched and publicised, but still
poorly understood. |
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Minneapolis Brewery Cellars
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The last remnant of a once thriving brewery in downtown Minneapolis.
These sandstone caves were nearly destroyed by sewer construction, but
now provide a haven for bats. |
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Landmark Brewery / Stahlmann Cellars
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Another proud German beer castle, with an uncertain future. Built over
the ruins of an earlier brewery, including artificial sandstone caves of
legendary size and depth. |
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Party Cave
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A fine example of 19th century silica mining, now a prime target for
stoned teenagers seeking shiny things, and a frequent victim of bumbling
city officials. |
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