The Most Stunning Abandoned Places on Earth
There is something both eerie and striking about abandoned places -- stark reminders of what used to be, with beauty seeping through the broken glass and dust.
City Hall Subway: New York City
It might seem impossible to find vaulted ceilings and chandeliers in a NYC subway stop. But that wasn't the case in 1904, when this Rafael Guastavino-designed station opened directly below City Hall. Unfortunately, commuters chose speed over style, so the stop closed in 1940, as the Brooklyn Bridge station grew. Today, Transit Museum members can tour the station, and some passengers might get a lucky viewing: Take the downtown 6 at Brooklyn Bridge and try to catch a glimpse as the train moves past the underground gem before switching to uptown.
Buzludzha Monument: Bulgaria
The Buzludzha Monument was built towards the end of the Cold War by the Bulgarian communist regime, who hoped it would serve as a prominent and official headquarters for the Bulgarian Communist Party. The UFO-esque building was the site of many state functions, with Lenin and Marx posters and a red-star ceiling setting the ambiance. Though the monument was abandoned and closed to the public in 1989, sneaky explorers continue to venture in to gaze at the otherworldly dome.
Six Flags (formerly Jazzland): New Orleans
The Six Flags in New Orleans was one of the architectural casualties of Hurricane Katrina. The park was flooded, and the water remained stagnant there for several weeks. What remains is a pastel wasteland: skeletal roller coasters, upside down concession stands, and terrifying decapitated clowns.
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