10. Queens Boulevard was originally a winding road called Hoffman Boulevard

hoffman avenue in elmhurst
Stretch of what was once Queens Boulevard

The express throughway of Queens Boulevard was designed to provide commuters from as far as Suffolk County on Long Island with express access to Manhattan via the Queensboro Bridge. During the construction of the IND Queens Boulevard Line, the Department of Transportation opted to widen the boulevard and install grade separation along certain intersections to create a highway-like design. The boulevard was just a dirt road up until the late 1800s and was comprised of both Hoffman Boulevard and Thompson Avenue.

Next, read about the top 10 secrets of Corona, Astoria, and Long Island City!