Last week, the city of Detroit, Michigan filed the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. That was the latest episode in what is a long and painful decline of a once prosperous city. The automobile industry has shrunk, jobs have been lost, and the population has been reduced. During the last 60 years, Detroit has lost 60% of its residents. A significant amount of houses and other building has been left vacant making Detroit the American capital of urban decay.
French photographers Yves Marchand and Romain Meffre met online in 2002, drawn by their love of abandoned places. They soon started visiting ruins in the suburbs of Paris taking photos separately but later decided to collaborate. Together, they've photographed urban ruins from all around the world. Their project "The Ruins of Detroit" is a 5-year collaboration, beginning in 2005. More information on their website: marchandmeffre.com
SEE ALSO: More abandoned places in Detroit and around Michigan // More abandoned places in the United States // LIST OF ALL DESERTED PLACES
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| Michigan Central Station |
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| Ticket Lobby, Michigan Central Station |
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| Ballroom, Lee Plaza Hotel |
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| Woodward Avenue |
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| Old Lobby, Michigan Theater |
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| Atrium, Farwell Building |
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| 18th floor dentist cabinet, David Broderick Tower |
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| Donovan Building |
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| David Whitney Building |
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| Metropolitan & Wurlitzer Buildings |
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| Fisher Body 21 Plant |
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| United Artists Theater |
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| William Livingstone House |
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| Melted clock, Cass Technical High School |
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| Piano, Saint Albertus School |
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| East Methodist Church |
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| Luben Apartments |
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| Rich-Dex Apartments |
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| Apartments |
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| Classroom, St Margaret Mary School |
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| Biology classroom, Wilbur Wright High School |
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| St Christopher House, ex-Public Library |
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| Vanity Ballroom |
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| Jane Cooper Elementary School, Spring 2008 |
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| Jane Cooper Elementary School, Spring 2009 |
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| Highland Park Police Station |
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| Remains of blood samples, Highland Park Poilice Station |
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| Lobby, Broderick Tower |
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| Laboratory, Cass Technical High School |
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| Public Schools Book Depository |
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| Adams Theater |
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| Metropolitan & Wurlitzer Buildings |
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| Fort Shelby Hotel |
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| Ballroom, American Hotel |
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| Former Unitarian Church |
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| Room 1504, Lee Plaza Hotel |
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| Packard Motors Plant |
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| Packard Motors Plant |
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These photographs are beautiful, saddening, nostalgic... so many things for a native Detroiter. Thank you for sharing them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing - I had seen a few pics of Detroit recently but these are amazing. It's hard to believe it has happened slowly over time as things like the dentist chair look like they were just suddenly left.
ReplyDeleteDestruction brought to you by capitalism and greed.
ReplyDeleteMade that everything on the first place anyway! What's your point?
DeleteWell, capitalism also built it. Just the cyclical nature of boom and bust
DeleteNo, brought to you by 60 years of liberal and union corruption. It's sad, I love this city's history, but put the "greed" part where it belongs.
DeleteSo compelling. Thank you for sharing your vision.
ReplyDeleteFascinating !
ReplyDeleteWow! .... I didn't know that Detroit is practically going to become a ghost town ... that's very sad, I really hope it won't happen. Great photos anyway.
ReplyDeleteThere's still an enormous amount of beautiful buildings new, old and restored. Many of these photos are of building in small areas of a 150sq mile city. Still lots of life there.
DeleteWhy don't people regenerate the place? Put up aquaponic systems, grow food etc.?
ReplyDeleteWe are
DeleteThat's so great... I'd love to be a part of that!
DeleteI agree with both of them
DeleteWhy didn't the closed police station take the evidence when they left? Also wondering why the libraries close and just leave the books there.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad to see those fine pianos in decay. I can imagine people shutting down a location, but not having any space to put a perfectly good piano so it's put to waste. Then again that kind of thought could be used for any item in these pictures
ReplyDeleteI couldn't resist my tears :'( ...
ReplyDeletePerhaps others have noticed, but the name and date on the blood samples identify the person they belong to as a serial killer Ben Atkins, who was found guilty of killing 11 women. Seems like the police would keep this sample as surely he may have killed more. Yikes... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benjamin_Atkins
ReplyDeleteOld article. Half the stuff in this post has been renovated.
ReplyDeleteI think you found the most depressing photos
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear renovation had taken place but it's a real shame for a city to let itself go like that in the first place
ReplyDelete