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Subterranean Twin Cities
Book by Brick, Greg
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2009
8 people are currently reading
98 people want to read
About the author
Greg Brick
5 books2 followersGreg Brick was employed as a hydrogeologist at environmental consulting firms and has taught geology at local colleges. He served on Mayor Randy Kelly's caves commission in 2004. He has published more than 100 articles about caves, is the editor of an international cave journal, and was the recipient of the 2005 National Speleological Society Award in Cave History. His first book, IOWA UNDERGROUND, was published in 2004. His second book, SUBTERRANEAN TWIN CITIES, published by the University of Minnesota Press in 2009, won the 2010 American Institute of Architects Award of Recognition. His third book, MINNESOTA CAVES HISTORY AND LORE, is the first statewide treatment of caves in 50 years, based on 30 years experience. His work has been featured in National Geographic Adventure magazine as well as on the History Channel.
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
June 17, 2017
I really wanted to like this book - but I ended up being very unimpressed.
In general, I really enjoy reading about underground spaces, like London’s abandoned or unused Tube stations or the catacombs under Paris. So I was quite excited to find a book about what’s underneath the city I live in! Before picking up this book, I’d done some google-ing and read some urban exploring websites on the Twin Cities so I was looking for new information and/or an interesting history of the area’s caves and tunnels.
Unfortunately that’s not what I found. Mr. Brick is very enamored with his own “scholarship” and seems to consider himself The One True Expert on Twin Cities urban exploration. This comes through both in the fact that he includes so many of his own uninteresting and unnecessary tunnel stories, and the many references to his “scholarly articles” and all the times he’s been profiled by local media. I was additionally disturbed by some of his tunnel stories, like the time he slammed a manhole cover down on another party of explorers, and the fact that he once spent a lot of time and effort trying to drain a cave’s lake. That last story was upsetting mostly because that particular cave is a sacred site to local Native Americans and Brick spends so much time discussing this fact. If you realize that this is a sacred site, then just leave it alone!! Do not alter it!! *Especially* if such a project is extremely time-consuming and only for your own personal satisfaction!!!
Oh, and one other thing about the tunnel stories - there is one regarding the Ford silica caves that is eerily - very eerily - reminiscent of a story posted years ago on ActionSquad.org (a Twin Cities urban exploration website). I would like to give Brick the benefit of the doubt on this, but the stories are much too similar for this to be real coincidence, and the Action Squad story was published long before this book. So. I’m not gonna say plagiarism for sure... but... yeah. That does not make me think well of Brick. If you’re curious about this incident from Action Squad’s perspective, google “action squad Greg Brick”... there’s a nice write-up about it on their website. Lawyers are involved.
Brick’s writing style also leaves something to be desired. The book really could have used some heavy editing, mostly because of the unnecessary personal stories and awkward prose. Really - the prose is probably best described as lumbering. Lots of pretentious vocabulary and oddly structured sentences. And a lot of unkind references to other urban explorers - Brick doesn’t seem to think highly of any of his fellow hobbyists. Apparently he once went so far as to PADLOCK OTHERS OUT OF A TUNNEL just for gigs. Nobody but an entitled asshole would do that kind of thing and then brag about it in a book... and he even had the nerve to sound put-out that someone eventually cut the lock.
Anyway. The book wasn’t all bad. I did learn some things about Minnesota’s blue cheese and mushroom industries - that’s probably the book’s most interesting section. I would have liked a more in-depth history and description of the mill tunnels, but what’s there is a decent introduction to the topic.
Overall, though, this book is not worth the $20 or whatever it costs. If you still want to read it, get it from the library or borrow it from a friend. I can’t advocate giving this guy any money for this book.
[Sidenote: If you really want some good Twin Cities urban exploration stories, you should check out the aforementioned ActionSquad.org. There’s tons of stories on there, many, many pictures, and some well-researched history. And... dare I say it... compelling prose! That website is really a treasure and I hope it stays up forever. I want to be able to show it to my kids.]
In general, I really enjoy reading about underground spaces, like London’s abandoned or unused Tube stations or the catacombs under Paris. So I was quite excited to find a book about what’s underneath the city I live in! Before picking up this book, I’d done some google-ing and read some urban exploring websites on the Twin Cities so I was looking for new information and/or an interesting history of the area’s caves and tunnels.
Unfortunately that’s not what I found. Mr. Brick is very enamored with his own “scholarship” and seems to consider himself The One True Expert on Twin Cities urban exploration. This comes through both in the fact that he includes so many of his own uninteresting and unnecessary tunnel stories, and the many references to his “scholarly articles” and all the times he’s been profiled by local media. I was additionally disturbed by some of his tunnel stories, like the time he slammed a manhole cover down on another party of explorers, and the fact that he once spent a lot of time and effort trying to drain a cave’s lake. That last story was upsetting mostly because that particular cave is a sacred site to local Native Americans and Brick spends so much time discussing this fact. If you realize that this is a sacred site, then just leave it alone!! Do not alter it!! *Especially* if such a project is extremely time-consuming and only for your own personal satisfaction!!!
Oh, and one other thing about the tunnel stories - there is one regarding the Ford silica caves that is eerily - very eerily - reminiscent of a story posted years ago on ActionSquad.org (a Twin Cities urban exploration website). I would like to give Brick the benefit of the doubt on this, but the stories are much too similar for this to be real coincidence, and the Action Squad story was published long before this book. So. I’m not gonna say plagiarism for sure... but... yeah. That does not make me think well of Brick. If you’re curious about this incident from Action Squad’s perspective, google “action squad Greg Brick”... there’s a nice write-up about it on their website. Lawyers are involved.
Brick’s writing style also leaves something to be desired. The book really could have used some heavy editing, mostly because of the unnecessary personal stories and awkward prose. Really - the prose is probably best described as lumbering. Lots of pretentious vocabulary and oddly structured sentences. And a lot of unkind references to other urban explorers - Brick doesn’t seem to think highly of any of his fellow hobbyists. Apparently he once went so far as to PADLOCK OTHERS OUT OF A TUNNEL just for gigs. Nobody but an entitled asshole would do that kind of thing and then brag about it in a book... and he even had the nerve to sound put-out that someone eventually cut the lock.
Anyway. The book wasn’t all bad. I did learn some things about Minnesota’s blue cheese and mushroom industries - that’s probably the book’s most interesting section. I would have liked a more in-depth history and description of the mill tunnels, but what’s there is a decent introduction to the topic.
Overall, though, this book is not worth the $20 or whatever it costs. If you still want to read it, get it from the library or borrow it from a friend. I can’t advocate giving this guy any money for this book.
[Sidenote: If you really want some good Twin Cities urban exploration stories, you should check out the aforementioned ActionSquad.org. There’s tons of stories on there, many, many pictures, and some well-researched history. And... dare I say it... compelling prose! That website is really a treasure and I hope it stays up forever. I want to be able to show it to my kids.]
March 1, 2021
I had looked forward to reading this book, as an ardent armchair urban explorer and follower of the oddities of local Twin Cities history. I have followed the vibrant Twin Cities urban exploration scene for years online (while having not had, so far, the opportunity to visit any of these underground cites personally) and I was eager to explore vicariously and in more detail the tunnels, caves, and passages that honeycomb the metro through Greg Brick's work. I had read about the controversy surrounding Brick's ill conduct regarding other explorers, which gave me some pause, but decided to read it first and come to my own conclusion, gaining at least some new insight into the history of the subterranean world of the region. While insight was provided, Brick's bitterness and sense of superiority towards others makes it less enjoyable than its premise suggests. Sadly, in the end the book was a bit of a disappointment, no matter how interesting I found the subject matter.
Greg Brick definitely shows his strengths as a researcher and “Subterranean Twin Cities” remains an important reference work detailing the natural and social histories of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and how these cities came to have extensive and mysterious networks of caverns, tunnels, and sewers buried beneath them. I especially found the history of mushroom farming and blue cheese manufacture in city caves to be fascinating, as well as the various legends and folklore surrounding specific subterranean places in the metropolitan area.
Unfortunately, while Brick certainly painted his explorations of the Twin Cities sewers in all their disgusting glory, and I applaud him for it, much of his anecdotes and writing style in general fell flat for me, particularly in comparison to the rollicking online accounts by the Action Squad and others. The writing style just was not as gripping as the interesting facts behind them, and while Brick might be a great researcher and explorer of hidden places, he is not an engaging writer. This is not helped by the aura of smugness that clings to many of his interactions with others throughout the book, particularly the younger urban explorers; in spite of engaging in questionable activities himself over the years (including attempting to drain a pond inside a local cave in order to explore deeper through a surreptitious excavation) he definitely looks down upon others as not “scholars” and not fit to explore while he was a certified researcher. No matter that, more often than not, no one was truly authorized to plum the sewers for the simple passion of exploration, Brick included. In spite of these shortcomings, “Subterranean Twin Cities” is still a useful reference work for Twin Cities history, and well worth reading for anyone who is interested in the topic, though it is a shame it is a not a little less bitter.
Greg Brick definitely shows his strengths as a researcher and “Subterranean Twin Cities” remains an important reference work detailing the natural and social histories of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, and how these cities came to have extensive and mysterious networks of caverns, tunnels, and sewers buried beneath them. I especially found the history of mushroom farming and blue cheese manufacture in city caves to be fascinating, as well as the various legends and folklore surrounding specific subterranean places in the metropolitan area.
Unfortunately, while Brick certainly painted his explorations of the Twin Cities sewers in all their disgusting glory, and I applaud him for it, much of his anecdotes and writing style in general fell flat for me, particularly in comparison to the rollicking online accounts by the Action Squad and others. The writing style just was not as gripping as the interesting facts behind them, and while Brick might be a great researcher and explorer of hidden places, he is not an engaging writer. This is not helped by the aura of smugness that clings to many of his interactions with others throughout the book, particularly the younger urban explorers; in spite of engaging in questionable activities himself over the years (including attempting to drain a pond inside a local cave in order to explore deeper through a surreptitious excavation) he definitely looks down upon others as not “scholars” and not fit to explore while he was a certified researcher. No matter that, more often than not, no one was truly authorized to plum the sewers for the simple passion of exploration, Brick included. In spite of these shortcomings, “Subterranean Twin Cities” is still a useful reference work for Twin Cities history, and well worth reading for anyone who is interested in the topic, though it is a shame it is a not a little less bitter.
September 8, 2020
I don't remember when I heard about the caves of the Twin Cities but it was before the internet. Places like the Wabasha Street Caves stick out as probably the first cave in the Metro area I heard about, due to its infamous history.
As a big fan of underground caverns, I have been in several include some of the area's show caves as well as Carlsbad Caverns. However, these caves are all on the beaten path and easily found. The caves that are described in Brick's book are not.
If you are into underground adventuring the Twin Cities, this book is a "must have". I have been following Brick's work for over two decades and I assure you, he is the "real deal". As a student of history, geology, and cartography, just to name a few, Brick has been to places very few men have (or in some cases, shouldn't have) gone before. To even know where to begin looking for the numerous underground caverns, one needs to understand when and how everything developed from the natural erosion caused by the Mississippi River to the way St. Paul and Minneapolis were founded and their growth. They are all interconnected. Some can be reached with relative ease while others are virtually impossible without an experienced support team.
I was aware of some the places in the book he describes but there are many others that I have not. Some of his descriptions of where exactly some of these places are is intentional. Caves are dangerous places for the unexperienced and the Twin Cities has had more than its share of cave related deaths. Plus, to get to some of these places one must be able to deal with raw sewage.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly as it provided me a great description of what lies beneath the city streets without having to leave the comfort of my armchair
As a big fan of underground caverns, I have been in several include some of the area's show caves as well as Carlsbad Caverns. However, these caves are all on the beaten path and easily found. The caves that are described in Brick's book are not.
If you are into underground adventuring the Twin Cities, this book is a "must have". I have been following Brick's work for over two decades and I assure you, he is the "real deal". As a student of history, geology, and cartography, just to name a few, Brick has been to places very few men have (or in some cases, shouldn't have) gone before. To even know where to begin looking for the numerous underground caverns, one needs to understand when and how everything developed from the natural erosion caused by the Mississippi River to the way St. Paul and Minneapolis were founded and their growth. They are all interconnected. Some can be reached with relative ease while others are virtually impossible without an experienced support team.
I was aware of some the places in the book he describes but there are many others that I have not. Some of his descriptions of where exactly some of these places are is intentional. Caves are dangerous places for the unexperienced and the Twin Cities has had more than its share of cave related deaths. Plus, to get to some of these places one must be able to deal with raw sewage.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly as it provided me a great description of what lies beneath the city streets without having to leave the comfort of my armchair
February 6, 2018
Greg Brick, author of SUBTERRANEAN TWIN CITIES, probably knows more about what is underground around the Minneapolis and St. Paul area than anyone else because for more than 20 years he has researched and personally explored the caves and tunnels (natural and man-made) that are below these Twin Cities. He has an excellent way of presenting this historical information in an adventurous way as we read into his step-by-step account of how he actually explored many of these places. Many of his adventures will make you feel uneasy, as they should, because they were highly dangerous. As a speleologist (a caver), historian, and geologist, Greg Brick feels compelled to “get to the bottom” of his interest of the underground. He goes and has gone where very few people would dare to go. He does it not only as a form of adventure, but apparently has the desire to get the answers to the why, where and how of all the tunnels and caves that intertwine under these cities. Put on your headlamp when you prepare to read this, as you will feel you are entering these dark and dangerous voids with this compelling author. Enjoy this well-written book, but don’t attempt to do caving without joining a cave club or group to minimize the real dangers that exist in exploring the underground cavities below us.
November 2, 2017
This is a fantastic book! I have read it several times as pure entertainment and as a riddle type of guide book. Mr Brick brings you right in to the action with first hand accounts of urban exploration in the pre 911 days when it was at it's best. If you can't actually go there Brick will inspire your imagination as if you were at his side at every man hole cover, raw sewage wade and inflatable raft float into the underground.... If it's not already...this is a cult classic book and should be in everyone's personal library.
March 28, 2021
3.5 stars. Super interesting, albeit pretty dry a lot of the time. Still, I had next to zero idea of all that is beneath us as we walk and drive around the Twin Cities. Learning St. Paul had massive mushroom cave systems was the reason I picked up this book. Although that was my favorite chapter, it is only one example of many geologically and historically fascinating cave stories in this book. Very happy to have read it.
July 21, 2022
Very interesting! I bought it because I grew up with stories of an underground river than ran under Marydale park and St. Agnes church. Those stories may not have been fully accurate, but the information the author provides is both very engaging and informative. It is a great addition to the library of anyone looking to better understand the history of the Twin Cities!
August 12, 2017
Incredible! Who would've thought that all this was happening right underneath our feet?
October 25, 2021
I was hoping for something more. Mildly interesting if you’re interested in this kind of thing (and I am) - but pretty dull.
March 22, 2014
I was not impressed with all the instances the author pointed out where he is better than this guy or that guy and how they are somehow lower than himself. There were a few good points and some solid information, but it was all few and far between. I could not believe the author thought it a joke to slam a heavy Iron cover down to trap some kids underground because they "sounded scarry" My biggest let down was a passage about the Ford mines that I read on a website almost a decade before the book was published that actually happened to someone else. This book just wasn't as good as his last one. It is very hard to follow the author's train of thought, as it bounces from topic to topic, many of them unrelated. It was agonizing trying to make sense of some of the gibberish attempting to be passed off as complete sentences. This sophmoric effort just wasn't worth the $4.83 plus $3.99 shipping from the used section online. Glad I didn't get stuck paying full price. Some of the information in the book is also flawed. It turns out that sandstone is NOT volcanic as is claimed in this book, written by a supposed and self proclaimed geologist. It argues an element of deception right there, leading one to wonder what else may be convoluted, or outright forgery.
July 3, 2013
Read as strictly an abridged history: this book is fascinating. Read as anything else... It's, well...
Disjointed: marvelous throw away sentences are left without follow-up that keep that make the reader stick with a story, but are quickly replaced with either an abrupt stop, a detail of stone work, beyond the casual reader's grasp, or, worse, an inside joke.
Most of the chapters want to follow a strain similar to what Chrichton did in his telling of 'Kilimanjaro' in the book Travels. But while Crichton explains and flushes out the story to give his reader depth, even going so far as within that story to explain climbing the mountain wasn't really a big deal, Brick simply finishes his with abrupt endings.
It's a book you'd hope a friend would read so you could talk about it; it's a book you wouldn't recommend to a friend.
Disjointed: marvelous throw away sentences are left without follow-up that keep that make the reader stick with a story, but are quickly replaced with either an abrupt stop, a detail of stone work, beyond the casual reader's grasp, or, worse, an inside joke.
Most of the chapters want to follow a strain similar to what Chrichton did in his telling of 'Kilimanjaro' in the book Travels. But while Crichton explains and flushes out the story to give his reader depth, even going so far as within that story to explain climbing the mountain wasn't really a big deal, Brick simply finishes his with abrupt endings.
It's a book you'd hope a friend would read so you could talk about it; it's a book you wouldn't recommend to a friend.
Read
December 7, 2010A pretty interesting look, with much historical and geological information, at a subset of urban exploring--caves, tunnels, drains, sewers--that always sounded frightening to me (confirmed by stories in this book) (and I say this as someone barely fazed by crumbling abandoned buildings and "bad" neighborhoods).
Read the other reviews and linked pieces for the debate over the author's relation to the Twin Cities urban exploration scene (and the charge he plagiarized at least one story)--I don't know any of these people so I can't take sides, but their complaints sound legit enough for me to not rate the book (reading it without knowing any of that I'd put it in the 3-4 star range).
Read the other reviews and linked pieces for the debate over the author's relation to the Twin Cities urban exploration scene (and the charge he plagiarized at least one story)--I don't know any of these people so I can't take sides, but their complaints sound legit enough for me to not rate the book (reading it without knowing any of that I'd put it in the 3-4 star range).
April 8, 2015
This is a great book for those interested in urban exploring, history, and geology. Mr Brick presents the researched history and geology of each of the underground areas and then describes his recent explorations into them, allowing the reader to live vicariously through his tales. He explains the approximate location of each of the areas to give context without giving away the entry points and is very clear about the various dangers that exist in them as well. As a St Paul resident, I learned a lot of new things about areas that I pass through all the time. It was an easy and enjoyable read. I highly recommend it.
March 8, 2015
Interesting facts about Twin Cities underground! Well researched with good first-hand accounts, I enjoyed reading this. Yes, a bit slow in some areas, but chock-full of info and history I've not encountered elsewhere. Highly recommend for those interested in TCs history!
Want to read
April 25, 2009Sounds fascinating, potential gift to multiple people.
December 2, 2012
Interesting glimpse into the underground caves and tunnels of the Twin Cities. Mr. Brick seems a bit taken with his own research but otherwise, fascinating.
May 9, 2013
interesting but didn't keep my interest too much. It was nice to see another world of exploration in the twin cities-underground. Of course the history is always fascinating.
October 15, 2015
I skimmed this. There are some interesting historical stories, which is what I read it for. Not a spelunker, I don't think I was the target audience. The book felt whine-y at times.
Currently reading
October 12, 2010recommended!
December 5, 2012
Save your money and Google "Action Squad" for real first-hand accounts.
January 2, 2014
Fascinating and disgusting all at the same time!
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews