Sandhogs

They are the builders of some of the most crucial and underappreciated elements of the New York City infrastructure — from its water and sewage tunnels, to its subway systems and bridge footings. In the early 1900s, the Sandhogs worked in conditions so dangerous that they lost an average of a man a mile, but they never backed down from the work that needed to be done. While the work now is just as dangerous, most of these urban miners' century-old working methods are still used. Their dedication is based on a brotherhood that has been handed down through the generations and preserved almost perfectly today. Their union, leadership, and spirit are forged in iron and steel, and reflect the age-old spirit of American destiny. So what does it take to be a Sandhog? What’s it like working deep down in holes that go as far into the ground as Manhattan skyscrapers go high? What's the first day on the job like and what does it take to survive intact? Burrow far beneath the concrete jungle with Sandhogs to find out.