In the heart of Lower Manhattan, an unusual 29-story skyscraper, devoid of windows, stands tall and mysterious. Its code name is Titanpointe, and it is located at 33 Thomas Street. This building has baffled New Yorkers for years.
The building, constructed in 1974, was designed to withstand atomic blasts and was initially intended to house vital telecommunications equipment. It was envisioned as a communication nerve center, fortified against nuclear threats, by the architectural firm John Carl Warnecke & Associates.
This imposing structure, a gray tower of concrete and granite soaring 550 feet into the New York skyline, remains, unlike any other building in its vicinity. Unlike neighboring residential and office buildings, it does not have a single window and remains unilluminated. At night, it takes on an eerie presence, and by day it casts a giant shadow, its square vents emitting a faint hum, often drowned out by the city’s bustling sounds.
For decades, 33 Thomas Street, also nicknamed the “Long Lines Building,” has captured the imagination of New Yorkers as one of the city’s weirdest and most iconic skyscrapers. But the true purpose of this enigmatic structure has remained largely concealed, shrouded in secrecy.
The Secret Behind 33 Thomas Street
Beyond its enigmatic exterior, 33 Thomas Street conceals a deeper secret. This building appears to be more than just a telecommunications hub. Evidence from documents obtained by NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden, along with architectural plans and interviews with former AT&T employees, suggests that 33 Thomas Street served as an NSA surveillance site, code-named Titanpointe.
The NSA’s involvement goes beyond mere speculation. Inside the building, there’s a major international gateway switch that routes phone calls between the U.S. and countries worldwide. The NSA is believed to have tapped into these calls from a secure facility within the AT&T building. This covert surveillance program has targeted not only international organizations like the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank but also numerous countries, including U.S. allies.
While AT&T has cooperated with the NSA on surveillance, few details have emerged about the specific role of facilities like 33 Thomas Street in carrying out top-secret programs. The Snowden documents, however, provide unprecedented insight into how NSA equipment has been integrated into AT&T’s network in New York City. This integration reveals the methods and technology employed by the agency to gather communications data from the company’s systems.
The NSA’s presence within this iconic skyscraper raises questions about the boundaries of surveillance in the modern world. As Elizabeth Goitein, co-director of the liberty and national security program at the Brennan Center for Justice, points out, “This is yet more proof that our communications service providers have become, whether willingly or unwillingly, an arm of the surveillance state.” The deep integration of the NSA within domestic communications infrastructure challenges the notion that such surveillance can be neatly confined to non-American targets.
10+ People Who Need a Time Machine to Restart Their Terrible Day
Scientist Stephen Hawking once held a curious experiment. He organized a party with appetizers, balloons, you name it. However, he only sent the invites after the party had already taken place. He wanted to demonstrate that time travel is impossible, and he did.
NASA begs to differ and confirms that time travel is possible, just not in the way we’ve seen in books and movies. This is good news for the following people because they’d love to start their terrible day over.
“My foot after wearing a wet boot with a hole in it for 10 hours”
“A buddy of mine seemed to think stick sun screen was a good idea.”
“Got my license in the mail today.”
“I was sitting on the lid of my toilet waiting for my bath to fill, scrolling on my phone when the lid shattered and I threw my phone in the bath.”
“My BBQ food truck burned down last month.”
“Lent a car to my brother for the day, and as a thank you, he filled up my car with the wrong fuel.”
“I turned on my defrost this morning and came back 10 minutes later to find this.”
“I did an air mold test in my apartment.”
“Went to use the bathroom at a friend’s house — nearly had a heart attack.”
“My job makes us food before each shift. Meet the zucchini hot dog.”
“I dropped my phone and now all my photos are blue-ish.”
“I asked my wife to tidy up my neck with the clippers. Yes, we are still married.”
“What they call a ’cheese’ burger”
“Got stung in the eye at 2 a.m. while asleep by probably one of the last wasps of the season.”
“I dropped the tuna can in the sink.”
“Must have dropped my keys after I locked my car. I came back to this.”
“In a boot with a broken foot on day 7 of 24 of my dream tour of the UK”
“Oops, there’s a pothole there.”
“I guess no pizza for me tonight.”
“I forgot to put sunscreen on my feet.”
If you could live an hour of your life on repeat, which hour would you choose? If you could travel back in time and get stuck in that era, which year would you go for? Let us know in the comments.
Leave a Reply