A boy left his bike chained to a tree when he went away to war in 1914. He never returned, leaving the tree no choice but to grow around the bike. Incredible that this bike has been there for 98 years now!
This bike, aka the "tree that ate a bicycle" on Washington's Vashon Island, has its own Snopes page (I won't spoil if this story's true): https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/bicycle-tree/
The Mark Twain Library in Detroit opened in 1940 and served as an important community hub for decades, hosting events and providing a safe space for neighbourhood children. However, as the surrounding area declined in the 1990s, the library's finances deteriorated and it was forced to close and then only open two days a week. It eventually shut down permanently due to disrepair and asbestos issues.
Despite community fundraising efforts, plans to renovate the library were never realized. With no progress being made, the city demolished the building in 2011, much to the anger of neighbours who felt misled about how renovation funds would be used.
The site where the Mark Twain Library once stood at the junction of Gratiot Avenue and Seneca Street is now an empty lot.
More pictures and info:
Ta Prohm is a 12th century temple located near Siem Reap, Cambodia that was originally built as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery dedicated to King Jayavarman VII's mother. It has been abandoned and reclaimed by the jungle since the 15th century. The temple is known for the trees that have grown out of its walls and roots.
It was featured in the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider which has led to it being nicknamed the “Tomb Raider Temple”.
The layout includes multiple enclosures surrounding a central sanctuary. Carvings depict Buddhist scenes and deities, though many are now eroded.
Despite restoration efforts, parts of the temple are still being reclaimed by the surrounding forest.
This Arizona, USA airport has had more names than I've had hot dinners. Built in 1942 as Williams Auxiliary Army Airfield #5, it was renamed Goodyear Air Force Auxiliary Airfield after the war, then Goodyear Airport, Memorial Airfield and finally Gila River Memorial Airport.
Now it's an aeroplane graveyard after failed plans to turn it into a casino.
The Pontiac Silverdome stadium in Michigan was once hailed as the finest in the world when it opened in 1975. It hosted major events for decades but fell into disrepair after losing its main tenants in the 1980s and 90s. The stadium struggled financially and was sold for just $583,000 in 2009. It continued deteriorating with roof collapses in 1985 and 2013. The Silverdome came to symbolize the decline of Detroit and its auto industry. Demolition of the abandoned eyesore began in December 2017. It had been used recently only for storage despite hopes it could spark redevelopment. The last event was a BMX competition in 2015, with the rider noting “it’s like a war zone.”
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Bankhead was an old mining town on the Cascade Mountain (Alberta, Canada).
The area's now in Banff National Park and the town is a tourist attraction, so it's not quite as abandoned as some of the places posted here.
I think I found it on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/BH8xzaruirLT6m4p8
Originally built for use in the 1930’s by Japan, it was later seized by Russians and used during World War II, powered by nuclear power. During the 1990’s and the fall of communism, the lighthouse became vacant and has since been abandoned.
More on https://mentalitch.com/spooky-russian-places-aniva-rock-lighthouse-sakhalinskaya-oblast/
or https://www.rbth.com/travel/334968-abandoned-aniva-lighthouse-nakashiretoko
