From an acclaimed author and a <i>New York Times</i> Best Illustrated artist comes the fascinating, little-known—and true!—story of New York City’s first subway.<br><br>New York City in the 1860s was a mess: crowded, disgusting, filled with garbage. You see, way back in 1860, there were no subways, just cobblestone streets. That is, until Alfred Ely Beach had the idea for a fan-powered train that would travel underground. On February 26, 1870, after fifty-eight days of drilling and painting and plastering, Beach unveiled his masterpiece—and throngs of visitors took turns swooshing down the track.<br><br><i>The Secret Subway</i> will wow readers, just as Beach’s underground train wowed riders over a century ago.