Beneath the bustling streets of New York City lies a hidden piece of agricultural history ‒ cow tunnels. These underground passageways, largely forgotten by time, once served a vital role in moving cattle through the city, ensuring that livestock could travel safely from ferries to slaughterhouses without disrupting traffic or causing chaos on the streets.
While NYC’s cow tunnels are perhaps the most famous, they were not unique to the metropolis. Around the world, farmers and city planners devised similar solutions to safely transport cattle across busy roads, railways, and urban landscapes.
The story of cow tunnels is one of necessity and ingenuity, born out of a rapidly growing world where agriculture and urbanization often collide. From the depths of Manhattan to the countryside pastures of Europe and beyond, these tunnels provide a fascinating glimpse into how people adapted to the challenges of moving livestock in an increasingly modernized world. While many have disappeared or fallen into disuse, the remnants of these tunnels tell a hidden story—one of farming’s intersection with city life and the creative ways humans have worked alongside their animals for centuries. Read on to learn about the history of cow tunnels.
What are cow tunnels?
Cow tunnels are underground passageways designed to help safely move cattle from one location to another, often beneath roads, railways, or other obstacles. These structures were particularly useful in urban areas where livestock had to travel between holding pens, slaughterhouses, or markets without interfering with traffic. However, they were also used in rural settings, allowing farmers to move their herds across dangerous roadways without risk to the animals or passing vehicles…