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Photo Gallery: Abandoned Americana
The old America is all around us. Americans used to be farmers. They used to go to drive-in movies. They used to think Route 66 was the greatest highway in the world. Some still do.
If you drive out of the city and leave the strip malls and cookie-cutter suburban homes behind, you'll find it soon enough. Head down a county road and you'll pass dilapidated farmhouses and overgrown gardens, the handiwork of people from our grandparents' or great-grandparents' generation. Like this old farm in Clay County, Missouri, near the Jesse James farm. I was with a couple of friends on a Jesse James road trip and we drove many of the back roads of western Missouri, places where Jesse committed his crimes and hid out from the law.
Everywhere we went we found this old Americana. On the outskirts of Kansas City we found a drive-in movie theater unchanged since the 1960s, and still open for half the year. To the west of Lexington we followed a potholed country road that led to a tributary of the Missouri River. Half a century ago there was a ferry at the end, popular enough that this road was lined with gas stations, hotels, and nice homes. The ferry disappeared when I-70 was built, and one by one the homes and businesses were abandoned.
Then there's route 66, half ghost highway and half tourist trap. And old boom-and-bust mining towns like Bodie, California, now a State Historic Park. Not to mention all the failed businesses, the empty big box stores and bankrupt shopping malls that are creating the new ghost towns of the U.S. Much of industrial Detroit looks like an archaeological site.
Next time you go on a road trip in the U.S., get off the Interstate and take a county road. drive slow and look around. You'll find the old America that hasn't quite left us.
Gallery: Adandoned Americana
Filed under: History, Learning, Photos, North America, United States
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 8)
Dr. Thomas Reardon Oct 25th 2011 9:45PM
Shirley, that was the most honest, spot on and moving post I've ever read. God bless you honey and may the angles rest upon your pillows!
Robin Oct 25th 2011 9:37PM
Shirley, I agree as well. I'm 36 y/o and I can see a huge change in the way people act and think from when I was younger. True, we engaged in some things that was considered inappropriate to the generation before us, but the things people are doing now....wow. Just 20 years ago, there were certain things you just didn't say and/or do. Times are changing and not exactly for the better. The Bible clearly let's us know this. It's time for people to choose a side; we can't straddle the fence anymore.
bassman Oct 25th 2011 10:00PM
I agree with you on everything, I am going to pass your comment
on to everyone on my email list, very well put!!!!!!!!!!
bassman
aaron Oct 25th 2011 10:10PM
I am so tired of hearing the same old , Iam tired, shit, you voted for obamma, this is the result.................
Lolly Schreiner Oct 25th 2011 10:22PM
I agree with your statements about how everything was better when we were growing up and it is very true. Someone stated that it is too bad we can't get together and do something about it. WELL WE CAN and we don't even have to get together. We can PRAY TO GOD TO TURN THINGS AROUND AGAIN! You know God is ALMIGHTY and can He CAN DO ANYTHING,(look at Jonah at Nineveh. He was going to distroy them but because they repented He changed His mind.) and if we pray and do some penence, and beg for His mercy, He surely will hear us. If enough of us would PRAY A CONSTANT VIGIL OF PRAYER so alot of people are praying all the time. If YOU DON'T WANT TO PRAY FOR YOURSELF, AT LEAST PRAY FOR OUR WONDERFUL CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN. Why should they suffer because of all the abortions? If you don't know how to pray check out EWTN on TV. web site www.ewtn.com, or My God and My Country, Web site: www.necedahshrine.org.
Please get as many people to pray an hour a week or an hour a day.
IRS2007 Nov 4th 2011 3:13PM
I think you need to re-rethink getting off the Interstate and wandering down those old country roads. Are you MAD? Didn't you see that movie? They are still looking for the last family who strolled off the interstate last October. Well OK, we will all miss you. Goodbye
IRS2007 Dec 6th 2011 6:33PM
hmm maybe you should re-rethink this over. Did you not see the movie?. They are still looking for the last family who took the drive down memory lane. OK, go ahead, we will all miss you. lol
Erich Oct 26th 2011 2:26AM
Thank-you Shirley
chris Oct 26th 2011 2:49AM
Excuse me Shirley, but blaming all of our country's problems (both financial and social) on the youth and foreign powers just doesn't fit right with me. If you look at our congress and most of the officials in our government you'll notice that most are actually from your generation. And economic trends that began in the 70's are actually what caused a domino effect that crippled the economy. So turn your words of disapproval on yourself. Someone with your age should have the wisdom to understand that times do change drastically, but people don't. There have been a slew of screw-ups during your time as a youth on this planet. And im sure that there at one point was someone even older than you ranting on about "the good ol' days". This is how the world is now, accept it. Besides, I think the reason that you're tired is because you are 76 and still clinging to the past for dear life...Just a speculation.
Bob Oct 26th 2011 3:08AM
May God Bless America, send our enemies back to where they came from along with any of our elected leaders that brought them here in the first place. All for the votes. They continue to sell us out. IMPEACH the traitors!!!!!!!!!!
DR. JERRY Oct 26th 2011 6:34PM
Amen to all that, Shirley. I'm only a youngster of sixty-three but I hear you loud and clear.
Brenda Oct 26th 2011 9:59AM
Oh Wow did you hit it right on the nail, how in the hell can noone agree with you ,I know i'm not 76 but i'm56 and life wasn't no where like this country is in when i was comming up and as far as God they have taken him out and put everything alse in his place so yes I'm like you i hope not to see my grandkids and great grandkids come up in this country thats only running on what a stupid goverment wants so yes I give you a thunbs up really high and personally want to say Thank You for putting it out there!!!!!
sunil beeka Oct 21st 2011 2:44AM
nice pic the old america is just like old india nice one
Lorie Oct 22nd 2011 1:39PM
Beautiful piece with lovely pictures. To bad alot of old Americana can not be restored...
guy nelli Oct 22nd 2011 9:25AM
my father was born aug 1915 in seneca falls,ny. moved away in his teens. went back with his brother to visit, 75 years later. upon his return, he told me that the houses that were falling down when he was a kid, were still falling down. he died 7 days after his birthday, aged 93.
GEORGE Oct 22nd 2011 9:51AM
I guess the photos ight be great IF I COULD SEE THEM.
THE D____ THING WONT GO FROM THE BODIE, CA PHOTO TO THE OTHER PHOTOS.
Dave Oct 22nd 2011 3:04PM
Bodie, CA was a ghost town when I was last there, 60 years ago (around the early 50's). The only store open at that time was like a souvenir store. No doubt it's on a historical list in either California or the U.S.A. Wow, what memories. Thanks for sharing.
Jim Oct 22nd 2011 5:29PM
I have the same problem. Can't get it past Bodie, Ca.
Lenny Oct 22nd 2011 6:24PM
Clixk on the thumb nails below the main picture and keep clicking on next photo.
B Oct 25th 2011 2:03PM
my problem, too...wondered what I wasn't doing or was doing incorrectly!!!