Alfred Ely Beach, Inventor of the Beach Hydraulic Shield
01
Artifact Overview
Alfred Ely Beach (1826-1896), American inventor and publisher, constructed New York City’s first subway. The 312-foot-long experiment, constructed in 1870, ran under Broadway, with a single station near city hall. Beach also devised a cylindrical tunneling shield to protect workers as they dug the tunnel. Pneumatic power propelled the subway’s cars. The line was abandoned in 1873.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Photographic print
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
29.323.1
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Paper (Fiber product)
Paperboard
Technique
Gelatin silver process
Color
Gray (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 13.875 in
Width: 10.875 in
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