Established in 2006, Abandoned America started as an online journal of photographer and author Matthew Christopher’s efforts to chronicle the stories of the forgotten ruins scattered across the American landscape. Since then, Abandoned America has expanded into an extensive archive that includes hundreds of vacant locations, thousands of photographs, and comprehensive essays exploring how and why buildings are left to decay.
Today, Abandoned America encompasses this website, two books, and a podcast, all dedicated to the respectful, fact-based examinations of neglected landmarks and their histories. Through photography and research, the project advocates for preservation where possible, as well as comprehensive documentation of endangered spaces to create an historical record of our architectural and social legacy.
Despite the name, Abandoned America now reaches beyond the United States to explore abandoned places in multiple countries. The collection continues to grow, and we hope you will enjoy discovering the haunting beauty in these forgotten places and the humanity that lingers on.
