American Experience

The Race Underground

It was Boston — a city of so many firsts — that overcame a litany of engineering challenges, the greed-driven interests of businessmen, and the great fears of its citizenry to construct America’s first subway

Signal school

2m 6s

In this co-production with Retro Report, we visit the MBTA’s Signal Shop, where workers maintain the equipment that keeps the trains on track.

Previews + Extras

  • The Race Underground Scene Breakdown: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Race Underground Scene Breakdown

    S29 E11 - 2m 59s

    Bringing to life the story of an engineer and a massive construction project from more than 100 years ago is a challenge. Filmmaker Michael Rossi takes viewers behind-the-scenes of the production of Race Underground, the story of building America’s first subway, in Boston.

  • The Race Underground promo: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    The Race Underground promo

    S29 E11 - 30s

    It was Boston — a city of so many firsts — that overcame a litany of engineering challenges, the greed-driven interests of businessmen, and the great fears of its citizenry to construct America’s first subway.

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