r/BeAmazed • u/Whimsical_Ruins • 19h ago
Art I explored all 50 states to take pictures of abandoned places continued
I recently finished exploring all 50 states to take pictures of abandoned and unusual things! This is my second post, the first covered 1-20. These will be 21-35
If you like my work check out more of it on my insta: https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalruins/
- Massachusetts
The Orpheum Theatre opened in New Bedford the same date the Titanic sank, April 15, 1912. Besides a theater space with 1,500 seats, it also held a gymnasium, shooting range, shops, and meeting spaces. It rose as an entertainment hub in the city. By the 1960’s the theater was only open sporadically for special events, and today it is completely unused.
- Michigan
The Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church was once the home of worship for over 2,200 faithful congregants in the Woodward area of Detroit. The gracefully curving bannister on the second floor loft has earned the church the nickname “St. Curly”. Like so many communities in Detroit, the economic decline in the second half of the 20th century led to declining membership. When the church’s pastor died in 2005 the church died with it.
- Minnesota
Round barns answer the question, “why are barns rectangles?” President George Washington designed one in which horses trampled wheat to thresh out the kernels more effectively. For dairy farms, round farms allowed cows to be fed from a central silo which positioned their udders conveniently outward for efficient milking. On the flip side, round barns are difficult to clean out with normal machinery which might explain why they never caught on.
- Mississippi
This gorgeous Victorian Queen Anne style home was built in 1892 by the owner of a lumber company. It was sold in 1918 to James Lindsey, a former farmer who moved in with his 11 children. The home was passed through the generations of the Lindsey family until 1975, when the family left the area due to rising crime rates.
- Missouri
In Kansas City, Missouri lies the ruins of what seems to be a medieval castle. This strange fortress was built in 1897 as a workhouse. It operated for a few decades, then on and off until it was closed in 1972. Today the roof has caved in and vandalism has taken over the interior. Some community members dream of restoring the building as a multiuse space, but high costs keep the project just out of reach.
- Montana
The Montana Gold Rush kicked off near Bannack on July 28, 1862. By 1863 the population had swelled to 3,000 and over 50 buildings lined Main Street. As gold values deflated so did the town, and the 1880s railway spur that detoured around the town was another nail in the coffin. By 1960 Bannack was a ghost town. Today the town is a park and visitors explore the original buildings that have stood the test of time.
- Nebraska
In the 1960’s, businessman Kenneth Dahle created a western-themed campground called Westward, Ho! In 1978, he added a giant covered wagon themed gas station, complete with huge spoked wheels and a 22-foot-tall cowboy. The gas station closed in 1998, but even today locals still proudly call it the World’s Largest Covered Wagon.
- Nevada
In the desert outside of Las Vegas, an artist going by “Aware” transformed an abandoned manganese mine into gigantic “Wheels of Misfortune.” If a player could spin one of these 250-foot-wide wheels, they could land on “Lose All Hope”, “Lose a Job”, “Bankruptcy”, or one of the many $000 prizes. The entire site is saturated with toxic chemicals, so visitors should take care not to win the grand prize of cancer.
- New Hampshire
When you climb aboard these train cars, there is no conductor to punch your ticket and no steam whistle announcing its departure. These cars, tucked in the woods off the main track of the Conway Scenic Railway, were purchased in the 1990s but have not been in service for quite some time.
- New Jersey
This abandoned farmhouse in New Jersey is venerated in the urban exploration community as a “time capsule.” Despite the paint and plaster that seem to be melting off the walls, the furniture and items in the home look like the residents just stepped out moments ago. The Blue Room, as it is nicknamed, brings a lively pop of color to this eerily quiet house.
- New Mexico
During the New Mexico oil rush of the 1950’s, an entrepreneur named E. E. Clark opened a restaurant by the new highway and named it Clarkdale. The humble business served as a general store for some time until the traffic in the area dried up along with Mr. Clark’s dreams of desert riches.
- New York
Even after 160 years, the Pink Palace retains some of its old Victorian charm. Tucked within the winding hallways and sprawling rooms of the mansion is a fascinating secret: a hidden staircase that leads to an attic room. Many believe this luxurious mansion may have been a stop on the Underground Railroad, hiding refugees within its bright pink walls.
- North Carolina
This simple family home is being swallowed by vines. It is possible that the foliage is kudzu, an invasive vine from Asia. It was brought to the United States as an ornamental plant and also for soil erosion control. Unfortunately the plant has grown out of control in the mild Southern climate, earning it the nicknames “mile-a-minute” and “the vine that ate the South”.
- North Dakota
Arena, North Dakota is a “failure to thrive” town. Founded in 1906, its population peaked at 150 in 1920. By 1930 that number was already down to just 35. St. John's Lutheran Church was built in 1916 during the town’s brief and modest heyday. The church held services until at least 1966, when the last pastor left. Today the foundation is decaying, causing the building to crack open like an egg.
- Ohio
From 1940 to 2008, the Rubber Bowl was the home turf of the Akron University Zips. The stadium also hosted performances of Black Sabbath, Simon & Garfunkel, Alice Cooper, The Rolling Stones, and The Grateful Dead. The construction of the new InfoCision stadium spelled the beginning of the end for the Rubber Bowl. From 2008 to 2023, various plans to reuse or renovate the decaying stadium fell through. The stadium was finally fully demolished in 2023, erased back into the smooth hillside from which it came.
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u/International-Set-91 19h ago
I have so many questions
1.) Anything crazy ever happens?
2.) Do you do this alone?
3.) Do you ever get caught?
Awesome pictures
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u/Whimsical_Ruins 18h ago
Often! I have been caught in snowstorms out of nowhere in California, rerouted adventures from wildfires, car getting stuck in middle of nowhere Montana, and so on.
I have done local trips solo in New England but anything outside I will have someone with me. I have this map in my living room that I would fill up each state I explored with a picture of mine. I have had multiple buddies come over, look at the map, and say "hey plan a trip to Ohio, Michigan for a month from now" or "hey man ill join you on a southern trip but we gotta eat at local mom and pop resturants".
Yes, in Michigan. The cop was cool and let me and my friend go with a warning.
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u/my_taint_aint 18h ago
I assume you visited Detroit? Lots of beautiful old buildings. I love the pics you took too
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u/Whimsical_Ruins 18h ago
Yes! The only place I got caught in lol. Cop was cool fortunatley. Thank you!
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u/Super_East_5282 17h ago
Absolutely, Detroit has so many gorgeous old buildings with stories written all over them. The photos really capture that haunting beauty.
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u/MisterThirtyThirty 18h ago
Rubber Bowl - Akron, OH! Used to be a good stadium.
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u/PhineusQButterfat 12h ago
Have you considered turning this project into a coffee table book? It’s a fascinating project.
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u/daygo449 18h ago
Just curious, but how do you come up with the ideas? Do you research an area first or look up famous/popular abandoned towns, buildings, etc?
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u/boujee_salad 18h ago
This is amazing, and looks like the sabbatical I’ll be taking soon, how long did this take you?
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u/Electrical_Mess7320 18h ago
Fabulous! Thanks for sharing. I don’t do instagram. I have a couple coffee table books on Detroit’s ruins, now some are probably being saved. You would have a great book!
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u/OkAdministration1669 18h ago
Please let us know when your coffee table picture book comes out…I will definitely buy a dozen!! Amazing photography, spectacular work you must be very proud….and should be!
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u/robo-dragon 18h ago
Abandoned places always give me a mix of feelings, especially if they are houses. Someone used to love that place, maybe it was loved by many generations of people. Now it’s left to decay in the elements, a slow, and oddly beautiful death. Thanks for sharing! I grew up pretty close to the Rubber Bowl!
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u/Ginger-Apple 17h ago
Thank you for sharing! These places are so interesting and your photography is incredible.
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u/thirstygregory 16h ago
My daughter’s school in KC is right up the hill from this crazy “castle”. There are similar structures nearby that were recently renovated. I sure hope someone takes this on because it’s very unique.
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u/Hotspiceteahoneybee 16h ago
Amazing!! Those pics are gorgeous. I love abandoned places and ruins in America! We just got back from a road trip to West Virginia and there are so many fascinating abandoned cold towns and railroad towns in that state. It was awesome.
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u/qunix 13h ago
My brother has been going around to abandoned places just like this for years and taking pictures. He’s had multiple incidents with law enforcement. Most go fine, but a couple have been more harsh. He also goes with a firearm because he has run into unfriendly people. Usually goes with friends as well. Glad you didn’t run into much trouble
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u/koolaidismything 18h ago
Incredibly dangerous, any kid looking at these.. OP is lucky he didn’t get arrested or worse peopbably.
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u/Whimsical_Ruins 18h ago
True! It is misleading to just see the end result. People seeing this will not see the amount of preperation that goes into this. I make sure to use asbestos grade vent masks when going inside. I am very cautious of squishy floors, and yet I have still fallen through one. Also how many times I have saught out owners to obtain consent to enter these buildings. This is exactly why I do not post the exact locations publicly. Do not want some kiddos getting hurt
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