Underground Philadelphia - by Harry Kyriakodis (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Explore Philadelphia's relationship with the underground, as old as the city itself, dating back to when Quaker settlers resided in caves alongside the Delaware River more than three hundred years ago.

Explore the city under the The City of Brotherly Love, which became a national and world leader in the delivery of water, gas, steam, and electricity during the industrial age. The construction of multiple subway lines within Center City took place during the early twentieth century. An intricate subsurface pedestrian concourse was also developed throughout the downtown area for the city's inhabitants. From Thirtieth Street Station and Reading Terminal to the Commuter Rail Tunnel and transit lines that were never built, Philadelphia's infrastructure history is buried under the earth as much as above. Join authors Harry Kyriakodis and Joel Spivak as they reveal the curious aspects of the Quaker City's underground experience.

Review Quotes

In this detailed and meticulously researched text, Harry Kyriakodis and Joel Spivak offer readers a comprehensive discussion of Philadelphia's vast underground infrastructure. National Speleological Society

About the Author

Harry Kyriakodis is a librarian, historian and writer about Philadelphia and has collected what is likely the largest private collection of books about the City of Brotherly Love--more than 2,800 titles, new and old. He is a founding/certified member of the Association of Philadelphia Tour Guides and gives walking tours and presentations on unique yet unappreciated parts of the city for various groups. Once an officer in the U.S. Army Field Artillery, Harry is a graduate of La Salle University (1986) and Temple University School of Law (1993). He is also the author of Philadelphia's Lost Waterfront (2011) and Northern Liberties: The Story of a Philadelphia River Ward (2012), both published by The History Press, and The Benjamin Franklin Parkway (2014), a postcard history book from Arcadia Publishing. Harry is a member of the Philadelphia chapter of the Society for Industrial Archaeology and also writes regularly for the blog Hidden City Philadelphia. Joel Spivak is an architect, artist, author and community activist in Philadelphia, where he helped lead the renaissance of South Street in the 1970s and early 1980s by coordinating with artists and builders. He opened his own specialty toy store, Rocketships & Accessories, and in 1992 co-founded Philadelphia Dumpster Divers, an artists' collective. Nicknamed the "Trolley Lama" for his expertise in Philadelphia's public transit history, Joel has a degree in industrial arts and is a member of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Railway Historical Society. His books include Philadelphia Trolleys (2003) and Philadelphia Railroads (2010), both with Allen Meyers and part of Arcadia's "Images of Rail" series. Joel also self-published Market Street Elevated Passenger Railway Centennial, 1907-2007 for the 100th anniversary of the El. He originated Philadelphia's National Hot Dog Month celebration, which spotlights both non-vegan and vegan sandwiches. His wife is artist Diane Keller.