Gothamist

A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.

Gothamist

WNYC Listen Live

Donate

 

 

News

Oooh: Secret Subway Exits


By

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 13, 2010

Modified Apr 13, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


Never miss a story

 Email address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .


By

Jen Carlson

Published Apr 13, 2010

Modified Apr 13, 2010


Share

FacebookTwitterRedditEmail


We rely on your support to make local news available to all

Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

In an article spanning all sorts of subway security, the Brooklyn Eagle takes a look at secret emergency exits throughout the system. Did you know that in Brooklyn Heights, there's a fake brownstone leading into the underground? They report that the three-story building "looks like any other on the cobblestone block, but it isn’t. It leads directly down to the nation’s largest subway system. If you opened the door [to exit], you would find yourself on a stoop, which is just part of the façade." (Kind of like Sesame Street?) The Heights in particular is home to many secret exits, unknown to most except for some locals. If you want to find the brownstone, it's the one armed with silent alarms, motion detectors and other hidden security. Better stick to the regular way out. UPDATE:Curbed threatens our city's security by posting photos of the decoy brownstone!

Tagged

brooklyn heights

brownstone

exit

security

subway


Jen Carlson

Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.

Read more

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations


MORE news

New Yorkers are paying $300 million for natural gas they don't even use

A new study found that nearly 2% of the city's natural gas is leaking into the air and causing climate pollution.

By

Rosemary Misdary

Published Oct 14, 2026 at 10:00 a.m. ET


Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center

Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.

By

James Ramsay

News

Early Addition: Eric Adams did not convince a Wisconsin town to build a data center

Because the vote against it was unanimous, here are your early links: Jacket weather, swishing your Guinness, spooky decorations in North Jersey and more.

By

James Ramsay


Hit-and-run driver arrested trying to flee to Uzbekistan after deadly crash, NYPD says

By

Brittany Kriegstein

NY measles outbreak more widespread than official count, health officials say

By

Caroline Lewis

A NYC judge brought his gun into court for an ‘experiment’. Now he’s censured.

By

Samantha Max


Never miss a story

Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.

Sign upEmail address

By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .