Isambard Kingdom Brunel is listed as the second greatest British man — after Winston Churchill — however, very few Americans have heard of his great accomplishments. This past Thursday, April 9, on what would have been Brunel’s 209th birthday, British museum curator, Robert Hulse stopped by Shippensburg University to share Brunel’s legend.

Brunel’s father, Marc Brunel, was a French engineer who wrote up a plan for the American capitol, which the judges liked but declared too expensive to create. Eventually, Brunel joined his father in the world of design and together they worked on Thames Tunnel.

The Thames Tunnel was designed to move cargo and goods across the busy River Thames in London. After 18 long years the Thames Tunnel finally opened in 1843 and had 50,000 visitors on the first day.

Hulse compared the underground tunnel to the idea of man walking on the moon, “It’s science fiction, people don’t trust what they read about.” Soon the Thames Tunnel became a tourist attraction and the eighth wonder of the world.

Since the tunnel cost so much to create, it was not feasible to use it solely for transporting cargo. “It’s like building an airport and having no money for airplanes,” Hulse said. In order to make money, Brunel launched the world’s first underwater shopping mall and fairground.

While Brunel worked on several other projects, his last main project was the creation of three boats. The first was the “Great Western,” which was launched in 1837 and became the first steamship involved in the transatlantic service. The “Great Western” was the largest of its time, but Brunel wanted to do better so he created the “Great Britain,” which was launched in 1843. This monstrous ship laid cables and was driven by propellers.

Finally, Brunel designed his last ship, the “Great Eastern” with help from expert shipbuilder, John Scott Russell.

Many questioned Brunel for not giving Russell full reign since he already had 12 ships in his pocket, but Brunel said, “Nobody has built a ship like this before so I’m the best one to do it.” Hulse said Brunel’s belief in the idea of the self and that everything Brunel did was either the first of its kind or the biggest.

While Brunel is famous in Britain, American textbooks have very little information on him. “The awful thing is — and I suppose that’s why I’m here — is that no one’s heard of him,” Hulse said.

Hulse is the director of The Brunel Museum, where he has worked for 20 years. For more information on the museum check out its website, http://www.brunel-museum.org.uk/. Hulse has also taught in universities across the world and takes part in costume acting.

At the end of Hulse’s speech he sold copies of his book, “The Brunel’s Tunnel,” along with magnets. Hulse explained that it was not tacky commercialism, but rather a vibrant, Victorian recreation of the souvenirs tourists bought after surviving Thames Tunnel.

“I’m inviting you to come to London and crawl through a tiny hole where our history was made,” Hulse said.

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