GregBrick.org       MINNESOTA GEOTOURISM

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Geology of the Sewers

I. The Early Caves
Quest for the Inner Sanctum: Carver’s Cave at Midnight
A Wild Goose Chase through the Sewers: The Hunt for Fountain Cave

II. Buried Rivers
The Urban Nile: The Subterranean Streams of St. Paul
Among the Spice Islands: Minneapolis’s Underground Rivers

III. The Great Sandbox
The Cave under the Castle: Brewery Caves
The Medieval Temples of Mushroom Valley: St. Paul’s West Side
Velvet Underground: Abandoned Sand Mines

IV. The Milling District
Subterranean Venice: Minneapolis’s Mill Tunnels
Boat Ride to Oblivion: Chute’s Cave
Down the Rabbit Hole: Nicollet Island Caves

V. Utilities
A Lonely Day under the Mortuary: The Fort Road Labyrinth
Behind the Silver Door: Utility Labyrinths

VI. Pluto’s Kingdom
Lost World: Schieks Cave
The Big White: Channel Rock Cavern

Sources and Further Reading
Publication History
Index

Book Reviews

"Subterranean Twin Cities is a well-written and very interesting accountof a rather little known and under-appreciated sidebranch--orsubspecialty, if you will--ofunderground exploration. Brickprovides a rich and colorfulhistory of Minnesota's urbanunderground and a detailed accountof its exploration.He paints avivid, if not always alluring,picture of the world beneath thecity streets. Readers will likelyturn each page in anticipation ofwhat will be coming next or scratchtheir head in astonishment at thethings some people are willing toendure for the sake of satisfyingan insatiable curiosity."--Danny Brass,NSS News

"Subterranean Twin Cities is anenjoyable plunge, sprinkled withfascinating historical side trips,into a netherworld that most peoplewouldn't want to make a destination.. . . Brick leads us to the buriedguts of our cities and brings usback wanting more."--Star Tribune

"An enjoyable account, not for thesqueamish, of a geologist's travelsbeneath our city streets."--Star Tribune

"It's a tour made all the moreremarkable for Brick's wrystorytelling skills and the factthat we don't have to get our feetwet."--Minneapolis Observer Quarterly

"Subterranean Twin Cities is a bookloaded with wit, local history, andadventure,proving that much morelays beneath the surface than thesewage we flush."--City Pages

"A comprehensive, enlighteninghistory."--Minnesota Magazine

"A tale of subterrestrialwonderment, full of exploration ofplaces with names like theSubterranean Venice, MushroomValley, Fort Road Labyrinth, Satan'sCave, Santa's Cave, the Triple HelixTunnel and the Urban Nile."--Saint Paul Pioneer Press 

"A great introduction to thedebatable pleasures of a whole newbranch of caving. Greg tells it allwith an irresistible wry humor.Only the most inflexiblecalcareospeleologist will put thisbook aside without finishing it."--Dr. Bill Halliday,Journal of Spelean History

"In Subterranean Twin Cities, Brick. . .takes readers on a fantasticjourney beneath the surface of theTwin Cities and beyond. With precisedetail and fascinating photos anddrawings, Brick explores caves andunderground areas like no one hasdone before. Subterranean Twin Citiesis a gem of a book."--Twin Cities Daily Planet