Abandoned Hospital With Power on in Illinois

June 18, 2023

This abandoned hospital was located in Waukegan, Illinois; a large city approximately 40 miles north of Chicago. The hospital, which was originally built as Saint Therese Hospital, has an interesting history as it began as the dream idea of a local chapter of the Missionary Sisters - Servants of the Holy Spirit. The small group of missionary sisters came together and organized the first hospital in the Waukegan area dedicated to providing comprehensive care for vulnerable, low-income populations.

After Saint Therese Hospital opened it’s doors in 1929, it exceeded the standards and was an immediate success, especially as the hospital also introduced a number of “firsts” in the Waukegan area, including the establishment of intensive care, inpatient psychiatric care, skilled nursing, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation, as well as a department for social workers to help with the homeless and chemically dependent.

Beyond providing direct medical care, Saint Therese Hospital committed itself to helping patients improve the circumstances that contribute to health and overall well being. In keeping true to the founding Missionary Sisters and its Catholic roots, the hospital offered intensive supports for pregnant single women, including housing and employment assistance - another first of its kind. By 1985, the hospital campus had expanded to include several new buildings and plans, so to more accurately reflect the spread of these services and programs, the hospital changed its name to Saint Therese Medical Center.

At some point in the 2000’s, Saint Therese Medical Center merged with another local hospital and it again changed names to became Vista Medical Center. This merge and subsequent name change sparked some controversy within the local community, especially as many residents wanted the hospital to stay true to its original cause set forth by the Missionary Sisters and the Catholic Church. The hospital ended up in several lawsuits during this time period, scarring its once reputable name. In 2018, medical company US HealthVest announced the acquisition of the Vista Medical Center and once again renamed it to Lake Behavioral Hospital. US HealthVest transformed some of the former medical buildings on the hospital campus into a new 146-bed psychiatric hospital that now offers a full continuum of care to psychiatric patients of all ages.

his state of the art psychiatric hospital opened as a direct response to the urgent need for mental health care and services within the United States.By 2020, the large majority of the former Saint Therese Hospital was permanently closed and left abandoned.

In 2023, despite Lake Behavioral Psych Hospital still operating on the campus, the former Saint Therese Hospital was demolished. It will be interesting to see what eventually rises the grounds of the old hospital.

Exploring Inside Creepy Abandoned Mausoleum

June 11, 2023

In 1926, the doors of a newly constructed gorgeous mausoleum opened for business. The Mausoleum, was a three-story stone building design, with compartment style walls in which to safely hold bodies and caskets. Although official interment records for the mausoleum no longer exist, it is estimated that over 500 bodies were placed within the structure, which was to serve as their final resting place for generations to come.

When the original owner died in 1938, care of the mausoleum was inherited by his two daughters. Tragically, One died in 2000 and the other passed away just two years later, in 2002. Unfortunately and for some strange and unknown reason, no will or provisions had been made for future care of the mausoleum or the remains inside. In 2005, the mausoleum was finally condemned and closed by the city municipality for being “dangerous and unsafe.” The historic structure was then locked up, fenced off, and plastered with “no trespassing” signs.

Over the past 18 years, the elements of time have taken its toll on the abandoned building. The roof and walls are crumbling in. Rain and snow have entered just as easily as those who have ventured past the no trespassing signs and locks to squat, vandalize, and in some cases even steal from the dead. This has obviously caused outrage amongst the loved ones and people of the local community, but it seems that their calls for action have yielded few efforts. One thing remains very clear. Eventually the mausoleum will have to be demolished. Yet despite years of legal discussions and ideas, there is still no logical solution to dealing with the present tragedy and averting one even worse in the near future.

As of 2023, there seems to be some much needed positive news on the horizon for the once memorable and celebrated cemetery and mausoleum. Many local volunteers have gotten together and are now involved in cleaning up the cemetery, gravestones, and also help keeping an eye on the now vulnerable mausoleum to make sure it stays locked up and protected.

Manicomio di Racconigi Hospital: Unveiling the Dark History of an Abandoned Insane Asylum

June 9, 2023

Welcome to Abandoned Central, where we venture into the forgotten corners of the world to reveal the secrets and stories of abandoned places. In today's blog post, we take you on a haunting journey to Italy, where we explore the eerie remains of Manicomio di Racconigi Hospital. Once a renowned 19th-century institution for mental health care, this abandoned insane asylum bears witness to a regrettable past and serves as a cautionary tale for the future.

Behind a chipped away, broken brick wall and a rusted wrought iron gate lies Manicomio di Racconigi Hospital, an abandoned asylum with a dark and shameful history. In this video, we delve into the depths of this once-operational hospital, sharing the deplorable conditions experienced by patients and revealing the remnants that remain, frozen in time, since its closure nearly 40 years ago.

Established in 1872 on the outskirts of a quaint Italian village, the primary purpose of Manicomio di Racconigi Hospital was to provide care and treatment for individuals suffering from a wide range of mental health conditions. From paranoid schizophrenia to pedophilia, the hospital housed patients with various afflictions, aiming to alleviate their suffering and offer solace in a time when mental health care was still evolving.

Throughout its existence, the hospital underwent numerous changes, including the addition of new facilities and the adoption of what was then considered "innovative treatment methods." The asylum flourished in the 1920s, expanding its buildings to accommodate nearly 1500 patients. At its peak, it stood as one of Italy's largest and most advanced mental health institutions, equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and staffed with professionals dedicated to caring for the most severe cases.

However, the hospital's success would ultimately crumble due to a series of issues, such as overcrowding, financial deficits, and the mistreatment of patients. Over time, the inability to provide adequate care due to insufficient funding and resources plagued the asylum, leading to a decline in the quality of treatment.

One particularly grim chapter in the hospital's history is its association with the eugenics movement in Italy. Pseudoscientific ideologies promoted forced sterilization of patients and, in some cases, even euthanasia. The asylum witnessed extreme isolation, ice therapy, electroconvulsive therapy, restraints, lobotomies, and other experimental brain operations. These inhumane treatments reflect a dark era of medical practices within the hospital's walls.

As the hospital's reputation for barbaric treatment spread, patient numbers dwindled. In the 1970s, the Italian authorities, confronted with the horrific conditions and mistreatment, began phasing out the hospital, opting for a more community-based approach to mental health care. Advances in technology and medications also allowed for outpatient treatment, leading to the asylum's permanent closure in 1981. The once-thriving institution was left to decay, a silent reminder of its disturbing past.

Today, in 2023, some sections of the hospital campus have found new purposes, while the main buildings remain in a state of neglect, slowly succumbing to the ravages of time. Though abandoned, Manicomio di Racconigi Hospital holds immense historical and cultural significance, serving as a stark reminder of the dangers of institutionalization and pseudoscientific ideologies within a hospital setting. The haunting halls of Manicomio di Racconigi Hospital stand as a poignant testament to the turbulent history of mental health.

Abandoned Funeral Home Exploration - We Found Caskets and Hearses

May 7, 2023

In todays video we will be exploring an old abandoned funeral home with a tragic story. This funeral home was a staple in the small community since it first opened in 1950. The owner and mortician was very well respected man but tragedy would soon strike. In 2004, the owner suddenly and unexpectedly passed away from a sudden heart attack. And After he passed away, the funeral home business was in the process of being handed down to the eldest son, but unbelievably and shockingly he was killed in a car accident the very next year. It was at this time that the funeral home closed once and for all.

As of 2023, the funeral home continues to sit abandoned. With the funeral home still sitting abandoned and awaiting a new life, the neighborhood surrounding it is vastly changing. The area now seems to be a popular upcoming and bustling place, it will be interesting to see what comes of this old funeral home.

Abandoned Funeral Home Hearse — Photo By: @detroit_unseen

The Ymca That Time Forgot: An Abandoned Detroit Landmark

May 7, 2023

Welcome to Abandoned Central’s blog. In today's video, we will take you on a tour of an abandoned YMCA in Detroit, Michigan. This historic YMCA dates back to 1925 and was one of several YMCA branches built during Detroit's economic boom. The branch was designed by renowned architect Albert Kahn in a beautiful Neo-Romanesque architectural style with moorish art deco details that became part of Kahn's signature style.

The YMCA branch offered a wide range of activities and programs, including swimming, gym, dancing, arts and crafts, and educational classes. The branch also had a strong focus on community service, providing support and resources to local schools, hospitals, and other community organizations.

Throughout the 1940s and 50s the YMCA branch continue to grow and expand. It soon became recognized for its state of the art facilities, including its Pewabic-tiled swimming pool, its gymnasium with the Detroit staple circular track around the top, its large library, and it’s grand ballroom. During the 1970s the YMCA branch started to face many challenges as enrollment began to decline and in 1980 the cash strapped YMCA was forced to close their doors for good.

Shortly after closing, the massive building was transformed into a community mental health center for people dealing with severe and persistent mental illness. It remained such until 2018 when that eventually closed down as well, leaving the historic YMCA completely abandoned. As of 2023, the YMCA still sits abandoned, but it is for sale. With Detroits focus on redevelopment in every corner of the city, we hope it will only be a matter of time before someone can save another part of Detroits history.

Hidden in the Woods: Abandoned 1800's Hunting Lodge

May 7, 2023

This location was a total random find as we passed by it while driving through the back roads of rural Georgia. We had no idea what the place was and from a brief search of the address on our iPhones didn’t result in much of anything other than the home was built in 1899 and was located on nearly 120 acres of land. From the outside, it would appear to be a historic dilapidated house in a state of neglect, however, there were several no trespassing signs posted, so it felt like someone might be watching the place. So we decided to pull over and go take a look for ourselves, especially as there is only one way to truly find out if an abandoned location is worth exploring or not. We grabbed our cameras and cautiously began our journey to discover what was hiding behind the walls of this old home.

Overall the old house was a super fun explore with a lot of fascinating and interesting belongings left behind, most notably the trophy deer mounts still hanging on the walls and all the vintage furnishings. We hope that everyone enjoyed the video as much as we enjoyed exploring it.

Exploring an ABANDONED Hospital: What We Found Will Shock You!

May 7, 2023

This abandoned hospital was an inpatient hospital that specialized in mental health and psychopathy, long-term care of chronic diseases, and physical rehabilitation services. The hospital was also known for treating indigent and uninsured patients referred by other hospitals and clinics in the local area.

The hospital was originally built in 1910 as an infirmary and accommodated close to 2,000 people who were destitute because of poverty, mental illness, alcoholism, and other problems. Residents also helped maintain farmland all around the facility. By 1932, there were more than 4,000 patients, including over 500 with tuberculosis, a deadly air-borne disease that affects the lungs, caused by a specific bacteria that spreads from one person to another through contagions in the air. After this, the hospital added more buildings to the property that specialized in the treatment of tuberculosis, and hence it become a TB sanitarium.

Abandoned Hospital Morgue Cooler — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Hospital Dentist Office — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Hospital Dental Chair — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

By the 1950s advancements in the medical field and a relative cure for tuberculosis caused another shift within the hospital and the treatment regimen shifted to a physical health care modality. In 2011, with an everchanging landscape in the medical field the hospital narrowly avoided a complete shut down, but unfortunately they did have to cease operations of all the hospital’s inpatient services. The hospital continued to function as an important part of the area’s health care systems by providing outpatient treatment until it ended up permanently closing in 2020.

Abandoned Hospital Exam Chair — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Hospital Dental Lab — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Hospital Surgical Suite — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

As of 2023, developers are eye-balling the 150-acre site as they will most likely move to demolish the historic aging buildings as officials have long stated that the hospital is “too old and expensive to upkeep and maintain.” It’s a matter of time before yet another piece of history is erased forever. And that brings us to the end of this abandoned hospital. This place was sketchy to explore with security and police on site, but as you can see it easily could be one of the best abandoned hospitals to explore in the whole country.

Abandoned Hospital Surgical Room — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

You Won't BELIEVE What's Inside This Abandoned Dentist Office!

May 7, 2023

This abandoned dental clinic was originally built in 1966 as a small neighborhood dental clinic. At some point in the 1990s, the dental clinic was purchased by a a young dentist that decided to try to start a small private clinic fresh out of dental school. The clinic ended up being quite successful as it went on to operate for over 30 years until it eventually closed in 2019. As of 2023, the dental clinic is still abandoned awaiting another chapter in its life.

The abandoned dental clinic features 5 dental exam rooms, a laboratory, a main office, and then a lobby with a small reception and waiting area. The abandoned dental clinic left everything behind including all of the dental supplies and equipment. In the main office area, there was all sorts of paperwork, patient charts, and dental books. Besides for the 5 unique dental exam rooms, there was a laboratory where the dental staff would make teeth moldings, partials, dentures, and even implants.

The lab had many different moldings of teeth and denture gauge kits that included some with former patients names still on them. The lab also had drawers full of forceps, molars, amalgam setups (which are used for cavity fillings), and shade guides for proper tooth blending and coloring. Each exam room had their own dental chair and X-ray machine, as well as more supplies of temporary and permanent cement, metal mixing machines used for cavity filings, tooth polishing strips, gum repair paste, novocaine gel and powder, dental adhesive, and even cement mix used for crowns and bridges. Samples of toothpaste, dental floss, and toothbrushes were all found in this area as well as throughout the entire clinic.

Abandoned Dentist Office — Photo By: @alisonnn07

Uncovering the Horrors of the Abandoned Detroit Incinerator

April 21, 2023

Detroit Renewable Power aka The Detroit Incinerator. It was at the center of controversy for nearly three decades. It’s been a target for activists, protestors, environmental groups, city officials, state legislators, and neighborhood residents alike. It’s been celebrated, but mostly hated. It’s gigantic smokestack could be seen for miles away, as well as by the millions of people who passed by it as they traveled through the heart of Detroit. The massive power plant was located within the shadows of the I-94 and I-75 intersection, also making it a part of the Detroit skyline for over 30 years.

The neighbors had long been plagued by the odors coming out of the incinerator that were absolutely atrocious and would often cause people to gag, and in some cases even get sick to their stomach. In addition, they ended up having respiratory problems and serious breathing issues. There was also numerous reports showing an increase in COPD, whooping cough, and asthma, all from the contamination of the air, the water, and the soil, caused by the constant flow of pollution. Sadly, the children in the area were hospitalized at a rate of three times higher than the state average as a direct result of the incinerator.

For years the local residents gathered, lobbied, protested, and even sued the incinerator due to its constant pollution, however and quite shockingly, it was not always this way. In fact, in the beginning it was the complete opposite. In 1989 the City of Detroit opened the world’s largest municipal incinerator, now known as the Detroit incinerator. It was praised by the city’s government and citizens alike, as it was expected to bring economic prosperity and growth to Detroit. It was thought that industries would be attracted to the city because at the time incineration, or burning trash, was viewed as the safest, most cost-effective waste disposal method. Many residents also supported the business venture as it was to bring much-needed jobs to the local community, but this was all short-lived as it took a turn for the worst.

Once the plant was underway, environmental groups begin to take notice after measuring high toxicity levels in the immediate area around it. They felt that the incinerator was going to be a major environmental and health risk; and actively protested against it, but in the end it fell on deaf ears and the incinerator continued to operate, burn trash, and infect the clean air. Unfortunately, the concerns of the environmental groups would eventually ring true. The Detroit incinerator was responsible for burning over one million tons of solid waste from 13 counties throughout southeastern Michigan each year. The burning garbage would then create steam, which in turn produced electricity, all at a cheap cost. However, that was where the incinerator went wrong.

They solely focused on bringing in inexpensive, renewable energy to Detroit and only focused on the financial aspect of the production, rather than the health of the residents. So in effect it was a cheap cost for energy, but an expensive cost to the residents in terms of their health, as some would pay with their lives as a direct result from the plant’s extreme toxicity. The incinerator became notorious as it was rated the worst in all of Wayne County for criteria pollutants produced. The plant would emit nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead into the atmosphere – pollutants which can be toxic to human health, especially respiratory health.

n 2019, things began to come to a boiling point. Officials reported that in its last five years of operation, the site exceeded pollution emission standards nearly 800 times, a shock to many city officials, state legislators, and other people in the industry. After this concerning report, officials again demanded action at the incinerator and required the operator to live up to the federal standards and guidelines. This meant that Detroit Renewable Energy had to give the plant a complete overhaul and upgrade most of its outdated equipment. The company quickly realized that this was going to be a huge financial cost and most likely would have resulted in a millions of dollars lost in profits. Detroit Renewable Energy eventually made the decision to close the incinerator and the years-long controversy surrounding the Detroit solid-waste burning incinerator, finally came to an end. The Detroit Incinerator was demolished in 2023, signaling the end of a toxic era within the City of Detroit.

Abandoned School of Nursing Left Everything Behind

March 19, 2023

The history of this abandoned school of nursing started in 1922. One of Detroit’s hospitals was fortunate in being the winning recipient of a gift of a 500K grant to help fund and construct a new nursing training school and nurses residence. The purpose of the grant money was to building a nurses' home and school as a memorial to the nurses who served during the World War I. The nursing school and residency opened in 1922 and was a stunning Italian Renaissance style architectural gem made of brick and limestone. At one time, the school and residency featured dorm style rooms, large suites for both administrators and graduate school nursing students, classrooms, a reception hall, an auditorium, a library, a laboratory, a conference room, and a large porch facing sunken gardens and tennis courts which, all were used by the student nurses.

The nursing school went on to provide education, training, mentorship, and most importantly happiness for both pupils and administrators alike for over 60 years. The 1980’s, in complete contrast to the roaring twenties, were financially troubled times for the City of Detroit and it eventually trickled into many local businesses and organizations, including the hospitals. The once thriving nursing residency and school was closed, as the hospitals were forced to make budget cuts resulting in many of the hospital programs to be on the chopping block. Although the nursing program continued to go on and even still operates today, it was moved from its historic location.

After the nursing students all moved out, it underwent expensive renovations to transform the building into….office space. The old nursing school continued to be utilized by the hospital as office space for various programs for another thirty years. In 2018, as the aging building approached 100 years old, it began to have structural damage; such as leaking roofs, broken elevators, and even mold. The annual maintenance costs continued to skyrocket, so the offices were eventually moved out of the building and the place was once again empty, where it still sits today. As of 2023, the century old once pride and joy for Detroit’s nursing student population, still sits vacant awaiting another chapter in its life.

1800s Farmhouse Abandoned For 50 Years

March 12, 2023

Deep in the heart of rural Georgia sits this grand, two-story farmhouse. Constructed in the mid to late 19th century, the house has undergone several renovations throughout its lifetime. From the outside, the house appears quite eerie and creepy, as it sits all by its lonesome in the middle of the woods. Furthermore, the home’s exterior looked as if it would be in awful shape, with rotted wooden siding and the shutters barely hanging, so most people would do whatever it took to avoid stepping foot in such a dilapidated place. However once inside the home, it was a complete contrast, as it was baffling to see the interior in such pristine shape.

Abandoned Farm House in Georgia — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

Several calendars still hanging on the walls in the house suggest it was last occupied in the early 1980s. In addition to the calendars, there was many other things solidifying that it had last been lived in approximately 50 years ago. Some of those things included antique furniture; such as four post and iron frame beds, retro light fixtures, aged Pepsi and Coca-Cola cases, a vintage stove, old Lance cookie jars, and a set of a barrel table with chairs. Every room of this house was completely loaded with the family’s personal items and belongings.

Although most of the bedrooms, the kitchen, and the dining room were all still set up from the last family that lived here, the front parlor rooms were filled with more antique furniture, almost as if it was last used for storage. The front of the home still featured the original second-story screened-in porch that wrapped around the corner of the home. On the porch, we found an old swinging chair still hanging, along with several matching rocking chairs and other outdoor seating.

This abandoned house was an absolute gem, but finding any relevant history proved to be extremely difficult. With the house sitting for nearly 50 years, it will be interesting to see if anything ever happens with it. The owner’s family still lives on a property nearby and keeps a very close eye on their old family home.

Abandoned Farm House — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

Cremated Remains Found at Abandoned Funeral Home

March 6, 2023

This abandoned funeral home opened back in 1975 and was approximately 30k square feet. The funeral home business was started by a pair of brothers who had already established a successful funeral home business in a different state.

The new funeral home was a successful business venture for the brothers as they had steady business, but throughout the 1990s, the owners ended up entangled in a legal battle with state authorities over proper maintenance of the building and surrounding property. This caused some tension amongst the brothers and the oldest brother ended up buying his younger brother out, making him the sole proprietor.

The owner continued to operate his funeral home business until his heath began to decline, a common theme with these small family owned funeral homes. Eventually The business was permanently closed in 2018. The funeral home featured a large chapel with plenty of falling ceiling tiles, a disgusting rotting lobby, a ransacked office, a file/record room containing all of the funeral homes past ceremonies, death certificates, and old obituaries, a casket display room which was unfortunately empty, and of course the always exciting embalming room, this one complete with a small morgue with 3 body trays. A bonus to this funeral home was an old rusted hearse, which we found inside the garage.

Exploring the funeral home was a lot of fun as we found a plethra of embalming tools and equipment left behind. There was even an embalming machine, formaldehyde, make up kits, urns, a gravity feeding embalming flask with stand, and a cool mint green slab. Although we enjoyed this amazing abandoned funeral home, sadly we also uncovered boxes of human remains, complete with their death certificates. This is always heartbreaking to find just sitting in an old abandoned building.

Abandoned St. Louis Work House Jail

February 27, 2023

This abandoned prison was known as the Medium Security Institution in recent years, but was originally called the St Louis workhouse. The original workhouse location opened back in 1853 near the intersection of south broadway and Meramec Street on St. Louis south side. The site was specifically chosen for the workhouse because of its close proximity to the banks of the Mississippi River, were there were rocky bluffs, and deep Gullies loaded with rich clay deposits.

Abandoned St. Louis Prison — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

The purpose of the workhouse was quite simple. If you were convicted of a crime that required the payment of a fine or a penalty that you could not afford to pay, you would then be incarcerated for a period of time to work off the debt through hard labor. Prisoners could not be held longer than six months and were paid 50 cents a day, which was actually generous pay for back in that time period.

Abandoned St. Louis Jail — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

The prisoners would work along the banks of the Mississippi River during the day, and then return back to the prison in the evening where they were all houses in different cell blocks, each cell was 12 x 16 feet, and held a shocking six prisoners in each cell. An interesting fact is that the workhouse was considered isolated and so far from the city of St. Louis that the prison guards, the superintendent, and the warden also lived on the prison property, with the guards housed in barracks.

Although the average stay of the prisoners at the workhouse was six months tops, many say it was the most grueling and unforgettable time of their lives. Like something out of a Hollywood movie, the prisoners were marched down into the yawning mouth of a giant quarry every morning, stopping only for lunch, before working late into the evening. With the exception of some women who were seamstresses, both men and women worked in the quarry. Ten-hour days were the norm and while chained in manacles, the workers would break stones with sledgehammers. The stone was then packed into the street beds throughout the city and some of the rich clay was used to make the famous bricks that also helped build St Louis in the early 1900s.

St. Louis Work House Jail Abandoned — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

The hard labor was said to be so brutal and backbreaking that it caused many prisoners to go completely mad and drove some to the point of no return, leading to both suicide and even murder. After several riots took place over the harsh conditions at the prison, the decision was made to close the old workhouse prison and build a new one.

St. Louis Abandoned Work House Jail — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

The old workhouse prison was demolished when the new Interstate 55 was built right through it. When the new Medium Security Institution was built in 1966, the workhouse name stuck, although they no longe require prisoners to work hard labor to pay off debts. The new workhouse was not without its own course of public problems, eventually leading to its closure. Although there had been years of complaints and reports regarding the grim reality of life behind bars at the workhouse, it received little scrutiny or backlash until 2017. One of the very first things to come about nationally was during a heat wave in the summer of 2017, dozens of protesters gathered outside the workhouse prison and chanted “shut it down,” after a video showing prisoners in sweltering 100 degree temperatures inside the jail begging for relief went viral. Many protestors gathered outside the prison to protest the extreme heat, black mold, broken plumbing, and rodent infestation inside the jail.

Abandoned Prison Guard Uniforms — Photo By: @alisonnn07 Taken 6 months previous to our visit for this video.

Abandoned St. Louis Prison Dentist Office — Photo By: @alisonnn07 Taken 6 months previous to our visit for this video.

A local justice reform group got involved and sued the city of St Louis over the now infamous harsh conditions at the workhouse prison. Unfortunately the workhouse story wasn’t over. Story didn’t end there. Shorty after the workhouse closed, it was used temporarily to hold prisoners that needed to be housed elsewhere after the notorious St. Louis city justice center inmate riots over its own harsh conditions. The last inmates left the workhouse prison in the summer of 2022. The prison has since permanently closed. After the workhouse protests, lawsuit, and the other negative attention was brought into the public spotlight, the city of St. Louis was left with no other choice but to close the overcrowded and underfunded prison. The St. Louis workhouse aka the medium security institution was finally closed in 2021.

Abandoned Jail St. Louis Work House — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Jail Visiting Room — Photo By: @sketchyjawns

Upon our exploration of the workhouse prison we discovered some form of renovations and rehabilitation already underway. It will be interesting to see what happened with the once notorious St. Louis workhouse prison.

The Abandoned Smith Family Home 1990s Time Capsule

February 21, 2023

A few hours outside of Atlanta, Georgia lies the rural home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith. The couple were married for nearly 60 years and had 2 children of their own as well as 10 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 9 great-great-grandchildren. Mr. Smith was a hard worker and provided for his family by working for the railroad. His wife was employed by the county board of education for more than twenty years. The couple were devout baptists. Mr. Smith died in the early 1990s, followed by Mrs. Smith in 1999.

Abandoned House 1990s Time Capsule — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

Today, almost 25 years after the couple’s death, their home remains frozen in time. Everything in the smiths ranch style, single family home was there for us to explore, look through, uncover, and eventually discover the heartbreaking love story of mr and mrs smith.

Abandoned Country House — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

The smith home was a true time capsule, stuck in the year just prior to the millennium 2000. One of the most interesting aspects that we found throughout was how a lot of the smith’s family personal effects and belongings gave us both flashbacks from a much simpler time out own lives. It reminded us both of our own childhood and adolescent years and emphasized that times change fast and whenever we get an opportunity to take a step back in time, we want to take full advantage of that and document it all for others to see it for themselves.

Abandoned Country House In Georgia — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

Abandoned House in Georgia — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

Abandoned houses are not hard to come by in America, as they are scattered throughout every area of the country, both urban and rural, however, to find an old abandoned house with this much stuff left and in such intact condition is extremely rare. We hope that you all can join us as we explore the abandoned Smith home, a family home frozen in time.

Abandoned Georgia House — Photo By: @abandoned_southeast

We Found 3 Hearses at this Abandoned Funeral Home

February 5, 2023

In today’s video we will be taking you inside an abandoned funeral home that left everything behind. The funeral home, which was located in the southern United States, originally opened its doors in the early 1960’s and the funeral business was run from the first floor of large building with other retail surrounding it, which was a unique set up.

The funeral home was owned and operated by the patriarch of the family, who successfully ran the business for years before he retired and handed the funeral home down to his son. The son then successfully operated the funeral home for another 30 years before he eventually became too ill and had to temporarily close the funeral home. Unfortunately, his health did not improve and he ultimately passed away. When the son passed away, his family decided to use the funeral home one more time for their beloved family member to celebrate his life and accomplishments. The funeral home held the sons memorial service in 2018 and was permanently closed right after. It has sat abandoned ever since.

The best part of this explore was that since the funeral home was originally only supposed to be closed “temporarily” but ended up closing permanently, it seems that they literally got up, left everything as it was, locked the doors, and never returned. This funeral home had it all….and when we say all, we mean ALL!!!

First off, they left the embalming room completely intact with all the embalming tools, equipment, and supplies. There was makeup, styrofoam heads, formaldehyde, artery fluid, skin compound, tissue builder, gurneys, a body lift, and of course the porcelain slab.

The second part of the explore was the chapel with all the chairs set up for a memorial service, maybe even from the owner’s own memorial service. At the front of the chapel there was a casket on display, making this chapel a great and also creepy room to photograph and explore. Next there was a room with several old embalming tables, multiple catafalques which are casket holders, and most shockingly there was several boxes of real human cremains, complete with names and death certificates.

Abandoned Funeral Home Human Remains — Photo by: @detroit_unseen

Abandoned Funeral Home Casket — Photo by: @detroit_unseen

Abandoned Funeral Home Casket and Visiting Room — Photo by: @detroit_unseen

The last memorable part of the explore was the garage, where we found three different black Cadillac hearses, all of which had not been touched in years. The best one was the classic early 1960’s hearse, but there was also one from the 1980’s and then another one from the early 2000’s. It is not everyday that we get to explore a funeral home with three hearses, in addition to everything else that was left behind. And because of this reason, the funeral home will go down in the books as one of the best abandoned funeral homes that we have ever explored. We hope that you all feel the same way.

Abandoned Funeral Home Hearse in Garage — Photo by: @detroit_unseen

Exploring Abandoned Prison With Power

February 3, 2023

This abandoned prison was built back in 1968 on a hillside with almost 100 acres of land. It opened as a state correctional center that held some long-term prisoners, but the majority of inmates served short-term sentences. The prison contained over 100 different units, held approximately 1,000 inmates, and employed almost 400 guards and other staff.

This facility had a wide range of inmates at various security levels from murderers to thieves, but was known for being a medium security prison. The correctional facility, which housed adult male offenders and had pretty much all the amenities one could ask for serving any length of time in prison. There was a gymnasium, barber shop, weight room, recreation room, workshops, a cafeteria, outdoor basketball courts, and even hand ball courts.

The prison had programs that help inmates such as the GED program to help their release. Prison officials stated that declining inmate population in conjunction with increasing costs of maintaining the aging facility as the primary reason the prison was permanently closed in 2013. It has sat abandoned ever since.

The most noteworthy areas of the correctional facility was the main control center, with all the control panels and cctv monitors, at the very front of the prison. That was basically surrounded by several areas of different holding cells. This would have most likely been the area where the inmates would first come into the prison while they await their security level and cell block assignment, and where they would also receive their property and entitlements, such as care packs, a mat, and clothing. There was also a visitation room in this area, that included stools on each side of bulletproof glass, so the prisoners could see and talk to their families and loved ones. Surely some of the holding cells in this area were also used for the inmates that would be waiting for a visitation.

As we made our way down the long main corridor of the prison, there were several wings on each side of the corridor that led to different cellblocks, some of them white in color, others blue in color. These cell blocks were two-tiers tall, featured only single man cells and showers for inmates. This may have been where the prisoners that had a higher security level would have been held, such as murderers and rapists, since it appeared that they would have had minimal interaction with the other prisoners.

This cellblock design may have also been useful to segregate inmates that had protective custody assignments and could not be housed with the general population inmates. As we made our way further back down the long main corridor, we came across some more cell blocks, but these ones were designed and set up differently. The jail cells in these blocks all had heavy locking metal doors, each with a meal tray, but each cell contained a bunk-bed, therefore, these were all two-man cells.

Then the final cellblocks were located at the very end of the main corridor. These large, wide, modern, blue-colored cells would have certainly been where the lower security level inmates would have been held, along with inmates that have proven themselves to be well-behaved and ones that had the privilege of being able to utilize the deprograms, such as GED and supportive employment. In addition to the main corridor and cell blocks, there was also a towel level to the prison that held the workshops, classrooms, weight room, barber shop, and the gymnasium.

The overall explore of this prison was long and thorough, as we wanted to make sure that we didn’t miss anything. Also, in certain areas of the cell blocks, some of the former prisoners had left behind belongings, inmate clothing and shower shoes, commissary sheets and items, personal letters, and even inmate legal paperwork.

Abandoned Veterans Hospital With Autopsy Theater

January 22, 2023

Abandoned Hospital Autopsy Theater — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

Founded back in 1851, this now abandoned veterans hospital complex was once the gem of the nations capitol, as it proudly served United States veterans of war for well over 150 years. Most veterans who entered the institution suffered from a wide host of physical and psychological conditions that developed as a result of their military service. The hospital, which consisted of a few different buildings, offered the first official sanctuary for the relief and support of invalid, disabled, and homeless veterans. The institution went on to serve tens of thousands of veterans who sought out treatment, sanctuary, and retirement.

Abandoned Autopsy Theater — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

Situated on almost 500 acres of rolling farm land and shady trees, the property has more than just the main hospital building. The complex included multiple buildings, including several veteran retirement homes and cottages, a training school, a mental asylum, an administration building, and of course the main hospital. The place offered veteran residents a sustainable place to live in dorm-style rooms with private bathrooms. They get all their meals and receive 24-hour medical care. Along with the golf course, there’s a bowling alley and art studios, a theater, a gym, two ponds stocked with fish, and even a bar, where residents got to drink for free.

Abandoned Hospital Bed — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

The veterans hospital was was founded in 1851, just a few years after United States troops routed their Mexican counterparts in the Mexican-American War. The US soldiers were paid money by the Mexican Government to not invade Mexico City, therefore, the soldiers came back to Washington DC and utilized some of the money to start a “trust fund” for old US veteran soldiers. This trust fund was the first monies set aside to start the veterans foundation and to construct the massive hospital and housing complex. Pretty much the first of its kind, the hospital offered veterans something that had really never been done before. It gave them all a sense of community and they finally felt like they belonged somewhere. It gave the people a connection where they could relate to one another and form lifelong bonds.

Abandoned Hospital Lab — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

Unfortunately, in recent years the veterans hospital fell on tough times. Medical expenses have skyrocketed, while less money is coming in from fees and fines to sustain the facility. The trust fund has been severely depleted; from 2010 to 2016, the fund’s balance fell from $186.5 million to $54.7 million. In 2018, the hospital operated at a $6 million loss. For the first time in its history, this deficit caused the hospital to ask Congress for financial assistance to help stabilize their finances. The complex also had to sell off several acres of land and some of the buildings to help recoup losses.

Abandoned Hospital Beds — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Hospital — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

Although the veterans hospital remains active today, many of the aging historical buildings are vacant and have been for a few years. The main hospital building itself closed sometime around 2010, when a newer more modern hospital was built nearby. Currently, there is discussion of what appears to be inevitable redevelopment at the hospital complex. As we enter the new year of 2023, it will be rather interesting to see what happens at the historic veterans complex.

Abandoned Hospital Admin Building — Photo by: @sketchyjawns

Abandoned Monastery and Orphan Asylum

January 17, 2023

Built centuries ago on an elevated hill overlooking a small Italian town below, sits a long forgotten and abandoned monastery, that is also shrouded in a bit of mystery. The entire 14 acres of the monastery complex, which consists of the original church, cloister, and convent; as well as the later additions of a chapel, gymnasium, school, and dormitory are all surrounded by a forest of shady oak trees lined with Mediterranean scrub. It is only accessed by a narrow, winding, worn-out road that seems to be just as vacant as the monastery itself.

The monastery was originally built by the Franciscan Order and used as such for the majority of its existence. Sometime in the early 1900’s, the monastery became a seminary and orphan asylum for young children before eventually closing down in 1994.

The old monastery is shrouded in mystery because not only is the history of the place vague at best, but the fact that some of the locals claim that the building is haunted and therefore, often visited by Satanists who come to the former monastery to perform black masses and mock the holy trinity of the Catholicism. Additionally, another puzzling and interesting fact is that apart from a couple of spray-painted satanic symbols on the walls, most of the monastery itself is still in pristine condition, especially after sitting abandoned and neglected for nearly 30 years.

And finally, some of the church’s interior hand-painted details depict what appear to be battles of good versus evil. In one of the murals you can clearly see a green goblin creature grabbing the leg of a well-dressed man. In another mural, you can see an angel pouring water onto a small crowd of burning people. Obviously, none of us know the true meaning behind these cryptic paintings, but they are certainly original to the church and it’s almost like they have been somehow influenced by the satanists who come to speak blaspheme upon God.

After spending several hours documenting the buildings, we all left with the place feeling like the monastery is still a bit of a mystery and there are still some unanswered questions that remain. Although it is documented that the place closed as a seminary orphanage due to the number of declining orphans, rumor has it that it may have been closed for another reason, one that has been kept from the public.

The current owner is trying to sell the complex for several millions dollars, but as you can see they do not care much about the history of the monastery or what happened here. The local Italian towns people where the monastery is located, have recently gotten together to try and raise money to help save the place. Let’s hope that they can make it happen, as this historic monastery should be both preserved and protected.

We Found 2 Abandoned Funeral Homes with Caskets

January 8, 2023

This abandoned funeral home was established in 1955. The funeral home was highly successful for many decades but in 2012, the owner fell Ill and passed away so it now sits abandoned. Exploring this place was both a thrill and an adrenaline rush. It was a thrill because they left a lot of the funeral preparation and embalming products behind including, used needles, hemostats, razors, mannequin heads, cavity fluid, tissue solvent, and embalming powder. They also left behind a few caskets, some burial vaults, as well as old death records and outdated obituaries.

The second abandoned funeral home from this video dates back to the early 1980’s when it opened as a small family owned and operated funeral home. The funeral home was originally opened by a local mortician who ran the funeral home semi-successfully. The mortician was quite modest and kept his funeral business very small, running it from a couple of rooms out of his small single family home. Eventually, his heath deteriorated and the business was closed. Within just a few years after the funeral home closing, the mortician’s son ended up learning the funeral business and followed in his father’s footsteps. He ended up becoming a mortician himself and eventually opened up his own funeral home nearby. That funeral home is successful and is remains active today.

Abandoned Hearse — Photo By : @abandoned_southeast

After the father passed away, the old funeral home was left abandoned with lots left behind for us to explore. Most notable was the casket display room, with approximately five different caskets, burial outfits and dresses, and some random floral arrangements. The funeral chapel was tiny and really only had enough room for a few rows of chairs, the podium, and the casket pedestal. There was some portraits and funeral announcements for a Miss Nancy still hanging on the wall, as well as a few outdated obituaries scattered about. Unfortunately and to our disappointment, the embalming room was completed empty. But just before leaving the funeral home, we noticed that the garage door was open so we went to see if there was anything in there. To our complete shock, surprise, and of course pleasure, there was a nice set of twin old school Cadillac hearses still chillin inside. That was surely a great addition to this tiny little funeral home.

A huge shout out to Abandoned Southeast for helping with these funeral homes. Check out his blogs below: https://abandonedsoutheast.com/2022/05/05/neighborhood-funeral-home/amp/ https://abandonedsoutheast.com/2022/03/09/bobs-chapel/

Abandoned Funeral Home Caskets — Photo By : @abandoned_southeast

Abandoned 1800s Insane Asylum With Painful History

January 2, 2023

Amongst a beautiful tree-lined property in Italy sits a long forgotten abandoned insane asylum with a horrific history. The historic neoclassical designed hospital opened way back in 1876. The hospital’s famous semi-circled design gave the exterior brickwork a rotunda with a smooth curved look and feel on each opposing end of the building. From the outside, this hospital would seem so peaceful and tranquil, however, behind those marvelous curved exterior walls, were actually psychiatric isolation cell blocks on the interior. And what was happening inside those same isolations cells, is the same stuff that nightmares are made of.

This abandoned Italian insane asylum was known as a place of horror for its patients that resided there as they were subject to humiliation, depravity, and torture. The patients were both physically and sexually assaulted and robbed of all their respect and dignity. With no outside governance, the patients became lab rats for doctor’s experiments, suffering from all types of neglect and abuse. Many patients died as a direct result from the experiments, as well as from the hardships of asylum life, all leading up to its nickname of “The Painful City.”

After sitting abandoned for nearly 25 years, the one-time insane asylum is now in a state of decay, a mere shell of its former glory, standing forgotten and rotting away in a tiny rural Italian town.