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Abandoned Detroit

a church in abandoned detroit

A trip to visit Abandoned Detroit is one that every Urban Explorer or adventurous photographer should experience at least once.

Detroit, the city that was once one of the most prosperous and fastest growing cities in the United States is now a shell of its former self.

Abandoned Churches, Abandoned High Schools, Abandoned Hospitals, theaters, houses and luxury hotels.

My first trip to Detroit was in April 2014 when I experienced a whirlwind day where we visited a cathedral, a former theater, a concert hall, a luxury hotel a recently abandoned church and a high school.  I returned in March 2015 and visited an abandoned  automotive factory, two abandoned churches and a high school, then again in May 2016 to visit more churches, high schools, houses and more.




Wikipedia states:

The city of Detroit, in the U.S. state of Michigan, has gone through a major economic and demographic decline in recent decades. The population of the city has fallen from a high of 1,850,000 in 1950 to 677,116 in 2015, kicking it off the top 20 of US cities by population for the first time since 1850.

However, the city has a combined statistical area of 5,318,744 people, which currently ranks 12th in the United States. Local crime rates are among the highest in the United States (despite this, the overall crime rate in the city has seen a decline during the 21st century, and vast areas of the city are in a state of severe urban decay.

In 2013, Detroit filed the largest municipal bankruptcy case in U.S. history, which it successfully exited on December 10, 2014. Poverty, crime, and urban blight in Detroit continue to be ongoing problems. Nonetheless, poverty is improving; median household income is rising, criminal activity is decreasing by 5% annually,and the city’s blight removal project is making progress in ridding the city of all abandoned homes that cannot be rehabilitated.

2014 Detroit Urban Exploration Trip

 

2015 Detroit Urban Exploration Trip

 



2016 Detroit Urban Exploration Trip

2018 Detroit Urban Exploration Trip

 

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This church was constructed in 1911 and served as a Hungarian church and also served many other religious groups until it was eventually closed and left in this abandoned state.
It is not in terrible shape, I have certainly seen worse.
The highlight of this location over and over this amazing sanctuary is the hand painted ceiling and stained glass windows that remain, mostly undamaged.

 

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This now abandoned Detroit High School was built in 1923 and was a part of a large Catholic Church that dates back to 1920.
As the churches congregation grew, so did the school with new wings being added on in 1924 and 1927.
By the 1970’s though, the east side of Detroit was in decline. Hit hard by the loss of factories and industrial jobs, the mostly white Catholic neighborhoods transitioned to mainly black Protestant. The Catholic Church was losing members to the suburbs at a rapid rate, while Baptist congregations were thriving.
In 1982, the Detroit Archdiocese closed the Church, which was only averaging about 50 to 65 parishioners on Sundays.
The aging church building needed significant repairs, the cost of which could only be born by a larger congregation. Two years later, the church, parish house and the school (which had closed in 1970) were sold .
Thanks to DetroitUrbex.com for the history in this location.
I loved the high ceilings and tall windows in this building and where it obviously lacked in contents it more than made up for it with decay and many interesting scenes such as this one.

 

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While exploring an abandoned church in Detroit I found this small room between the sanctuary and the gymnasium with perfect natural light and an excellent amount of dust and decay.

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Inside an abandoned Detroit High School that seems to be undergoing some kind of renovation, prep for demolition or preparations for restoration RiddimRyder and I opened a wooden door with caution tape over it and found ourselves inside this beautiful auditorium.
The room smelled of a semi recent fire and the whole room was coated in black from the smoke.
On the stage there were files of burnt wood that had collapsed from the ceiling.
This high school opened in April of 1922 and was closed along with a dozen other schools in 2012.

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Onr of my favourite scenes from inside this old abandoned church in Detroit, Michigan.
The lean on the left side of the stairs and the natural light rom the widows on all three levels made for an excellent photo opportunity.
I didn’t venture up or down the stairs as the floors were far too unstable here.

 




In the dark lobby of an abandoned recreation hall in Detroit. This building is one of three abandoned buildings on a church property consisting of a church, school and recreation hall.
In the dark lobby of an abandoned recreation hall in Detroit. This building is one of three abandoned buildings on a church property consisting of a church, school and recreation hall.

 

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A 2 for 1 deal with an abandoned church and an abandoned school in Detroit, Michigan.

5 thoughts on “Abandoned Detroit”

  1. What beautiful architecture. How sad and tragic that it has fallen into disrepair. I am an amature photographer. I find old buildings and architecture fascinating. I live in WA state and found an old church and cemetary that is abandoned. The cemetary is on the historical registry but I can’t find anything on the church. Would you have any advice as to how to find more information about it. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank you
    Karen

  2. i lived in canada and those thing dosent exist here,its a modern tragedy that hit a city liked detroit,i hoped that the good lord would blrssed the people of detroit.today nobody is responsible for this huge mess.sad and tragic.

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