The Secrets of the Moose Jaw Tunnels With Melissa and Kevin
When you hear about the tunnels of Moose Jaw, what images come to mind? A treasure hunt? Mummies buried beneath the street? What about alcohol? What!? Yes, you read that right. Booze and prohibition, to be exact.
You see, there was a time when Moose Jaw, SK., was THE place for smuggling liquor into the United States. There was a direct rail line to Chicago, where the illegal booze was destined for during the time of prohibition in the early 1900s. Alcohol was outlawed in the U.S., so some people, and Chicago gang boss Al Capone included, provided that alcohol. It was rumored but never proven that he visited Moose Jaw to escape the Feds in Chicago.
The tunnels are an interesting story, though. They were first built as part of the city’s infrastructure to move the steam heat from building to building. However, some other accounts suggest the tunnels provided refuge for Chinese immigrants during a period of intense discrimination and anti-Chinese sentiment. They may have used the tunnels to escape violence and to avoid paying a head tax.
As mentioned, during prohibition, the tunnels became a haven for bootleggers who used them to transport alcohol and operate speakeasies. This era is central to the tunnel’s notoriety and is where the “Capone Connection” enters the picture. The stories of his presence are largely based on local legends and anecdotes. Was he really there? Maybe. Like the Loch Ness Monster, it’s fun to believe in, isn’t it?
We took the tour, and it was cool. We started on the top floor of one building and ended up coming up from another building across the street. We passed through a saloon, then a sitting room and finally ended up in a bedroom and sneaking out through a secret door in a closet that led us down to the basement.
Unfortunately, we were not allowed to take any pictures or videos. Why? I’m still not sure! The “actors” who were a part of the tour, Augustus or Gus and Fanny, were very knowledgeable and really seemed to enjoy taking us back through time with interesting commentary and interaction with our group.
The tunnels were developed into a tourist attraction in the late 1990s and early 2000s, offering theatrical tours that explore the city’s history and the legends surrounding the tunnels.
All in all, it was a fun tour to take part in and see where things had happened and people had been. There was also a well-stocked souvenir shop that carried many items with the picture of gangster Alphonse Capone. After all, he is the main draw and reason that this tourist spot is so busy.
Want to give it a try? Go for it.
By Kevin Martin
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