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88Nine Radio Milwaukee

It has a platform and stairs that lead underground, taking you to a human-sized tunnel underneath National Ave.

But once you get there, you won’t hear trains.

Check it out below.

Ok, we might be stretching the definition, but according to city plans, the pedestrian tunnel on 4th and National was labeled as a “subway” when it was built in 1929. It was originally designed as a way to safely get school children across National Ave. from their school campus to a playground on the other side of the street. And it was costly. The subway was constructed to the tune of $20,000, equivalent to more than $200,000 in today’s dollars. So, can regular old Milwaukeeans get inside today? Not really. The only users of the tunnel are students and staff from Escuela Vieau and Bradley Tech. The entrance remains on locked — on school property — most of the day, opened up only by MPS officials for foot traffic. But that doesn’t mean you can’t go inside, virtually at least.