Urban Exploring

All of my posts up to this point have been about music, but I've decided it's time to expand the content of this blog to include other random and interesting things. In this post I will inform you about the activity of Urban Exploring. Wikipedia defines Urban Exploration as "the exploration of man-made structures, usually abandoned ruins or not usually seen components of the man-made environment." Wikipedia goes on to say that  "photography and historical interest/documentation are heavily featured in the hobby and, although it may sometimes involve trespass onto private property, this is not always the case and is of innocent intention."

Many Urban Explorers are also photographers, and many amazing photos can come out of the hobby.

To me, the thrill of Urban Exploring comes from the fact that many of the buildings and structures were once in full use, maybe hundreds of years ago and that they are now forgotten. It amazes me how such structures can be simply abandoned, left to decay. For example, the following photo of an abandoned state hospital asylum. Unfortunately there aren't many local places of this brilliance and magnitude. Many of these larger older hospitals and such are in Europe or remote places in the US. 

There are several websites dedicated to Urban Exploring in the Ohio and Great Lakes regions. Unfortunately many of these websites are out of date. It is difficult to work with outdated information because the status of a building can change in a matter of months. Many of these buildings may be torn down, or purchased and renovated for use. Some websites that focus on the Ohio and Great Lakes area include:

Ohio Exploration Society

Illicit Ohio

Dead Ohio

Great Lakes Urban Exploration


Some awesome local Ohio sites include the following:

Edwin Shaw Hospital

Chippewa Lake Amusement Park

 

St. Joseph Byzantine Church

Urban Exploring can come with several dangers. First off, it is mostly illegal as you are almost always trespassing on private property. Unfortunately police can often be assholes, to put it bluntly. There is a sort of code of conduct for Urban Explorers that you don't take anything or vandalize anything. Dangers can include asbestos, other contaminants and chemicals, dangerous heavy machinery, and structural instability such as decaying floors and ceilings. It is important to not carry any weapons, pry bars, lock pick sets, etc. that could lead police to breaking and entering or vandalism.

Urban Exploring is also some what seasonal. It is much more difficult to explore in the winter than the summer. An additional danger during the winter is homeless people. The homeless often take shelter inside abandoned buildings. Homeless may not always be a threat and can even be friendly, but it is the uncertainty that makes them a danger.

The following video is a documentary made about the hobby of Urban Exploring.

Unfortunately, over time the buildings and locations are forgotten and torn down. It is heartbreaking to do research and find a spectacular location only to find that it was recently torn down. Urban Exploring is a fun, adventurous, and sometimes dangerous activity, however it is a wonderful way to appreciate society, architecture, and civilization.