Abandoned America

I'm Matthew Christopher, creator of the Abandoned America website, podcast, and book series about the beautiful and fascinating ruins in our midst. Photos are mine unless credited otherwise. Not a photo bot, so I post about other things from time to time.

Public Key

npub14p4nk25txl06e4dnrpq73g0z7jsr0ztlh23krf730ayd2jsxayys5qj3gw

NIP-05 Address

AbandonedAmerica_at_mastodon.social@mostr.pub

Profile Code

nprofile1qqs2s6em929n0hav6ke3ss0g5830fgph39lm4gmp5lgh7jx4fgrwjzgpz4mhxue69uhhyetvv9ujumt0wd68ytnsw43qzxrhwden5te0wfjkccte9ehx7umhdpjhyefwvdhk6wmxw4m

Publishing to

relay.mostr.pub

relay.noswhere.com

nos.lol

Author Public Key

npub14p4nk25txl06e4dnrpq73g0z7jsr0ztlh23krf730ayd2jsxayys5qj3gw

Show more details

Last Notes

2024-08-11 05:46:32

- reply

@npub1yqk…anms oh, I love it. Absolutely a masterpiece in every sense

2024-08-11 05:43:34

- reply

@npub1zrz…s46f it was used in Transformers 2, Last Airbender, and 12 Monkeys. Maybe more but those are the ones I can remember off the top of my head

2024-08-11 05:42:46

- reply

@npub1ufx…kc56 I agree! It's one of the most spectacular buildings I've seen, and... just kind of treated like trash

2024-08-11 05:42:07

- reply

@npub1ywx…29n9 thank you! This place was a filming location for 12 Monkeys so you're not the only one with that reaction

2024-08-11 05:41:32

- reply

@npub1d35…hp4x thanks so much!

2024-08-11 05:41:02

- reply

@npub1xfd…hm4d that was my reaction too

2024-08-08 21:54:22

Memorial Hall at the once gorgeous, now abandoned Tome School in Maryland
See the rest on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/tome-school
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/928/620/074/567/324/original/3248bd67c8f3d28a.jpg

2024-07-28 15:39:39

- reply

@npub1463…00qn thank you. I sure was too 😔

2024-07-02 19:28:35

The projectionist's booth at the long abandoned Coyle Theatre
See the new photo gallery on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/coyle-theater
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/718/534/288/947/534/original/4009944a70d52866.jpg

2024-06-14 18:09:41

- reply

@npub1463…00qn Oh man, if obtaining citizenship weren't such an immense obstacle to someone in the arts, I'd seriously consider it.

2024-06-14 17:53:40

- reply

@npub1463…00qn Whoa! I hear it's absolutely gorgeous there! Given the state of affairs in the US, I wouldn't mind moving there myself 😄 😬

2024-06-14 17:51:40

- reply

@npub1463…00qn oh, that's great! Where to, if I may ask?

2024-06-14 17:50:07

- reply

@npub1463…00qn you too, friend! How are things on your end?

2024-06-14 17:43:39

- reply

@npub1463…00qn Thank you! 😊

2024-05-30 01:27:07

After over a decade, all my student loans are finally paid off! Hard to believe. All of the money from my workshops, books, etc went into that and now they're done 🥳🎉🥂
But seriously I want that money back

2024-05-25 19:05:19

- reply

@npub1hdq…n0vm The Dunnington Mansion Foundation is attempting to raise the money to do so. You can learn more about their efforts here https://dunningtonmansion.org/

2024-05-23 17:43:05

An aerial view of the spectacular Dunnington Mansion in Farmville, VA
Check out the new gallery and write up on Abandoned America: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/dunnington-mansion
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/491/636/238/846/886/original/be31d982ce5940e0.jpg

2024-05-08 19:07:27

The same abandoned church after 4 years of neglect
See the rest https://www.abandonedamerica.us/most-blessed-sacrament-church
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/407/025/218/815/434/original/bff2c7fddfce9bdc.jpg
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/112/407/026/271/183/407/original/c2a807472f7444f7.jpg

2024-01-18 20:24:30

The auditorium of the abandoned Lansdowne Theater. The Lansdowne is currently in the midst of a $16 mil restoration project that will see it reopen as a concert venue this fall.
See the photos and read the story at https://www.abandonedamerica.us/historic-lansdowne-theater
Listen to my interview with the Executive Director about the journey to reopen a long abandoned theater: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-incredible-rebirth-of-the-lansdowne-theater
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/778/802/043/208/211/original/6d4f8bf73a1885b6.jpg

2023-12-29 20:50:56

A work desk in an abandoned coal breaker
Want to know what a coal breaker is and look inside? Here's the link https://www.abandonedamerica.us/st-nicholas-breaker
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/665/667/394/833/168/original/eb5be4c118e1b1fd.jpg

2023-11-24 21:20:14

Wouldn't be a true Black Friday at Abandoned America without an abandoned mall - here's my all-time favorite, Randall Park Mall in North Randall, Ohio.
More at https://www.abandonedamerica.us/randall-park-mall
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/111/467/607/077/832/736/original/25a1d8541331a176.jpg

2023-08-21 03:15:04

- reply

@npub1py3…cjl4 thanks! The Peruvian owner got in a lot of hot water with the city last year but they had made real progress with the admin building so idk what the deal was. I just know that demo is underway. But that place is massive and very strong structurally so it'll take a while. Looks like they're well into it though https://www.freep.com/story/news/local/michigan/detroit/2023/01/24/detroit-packard-plant-demolition/69836300007/

2023-08-16 06:55:45

- reply

@npub1zxz…8jtz haha yeah that works for general innui or fatigue sometimes but headaches? Nope. I'm too busy trying not to move my head in any direction that causes the stabby pain (which is all directions), thank you. I'm glad it's passed also. It's embarrassing but I kinda forgot the medicine I have specifically for it does a decent job mitigating it and was just taking ibuprofen which is, admittedly, very foolish, I know. I'm not really sure what I was thinking either tbh

2023-08-15 05:49:25

Fun Abandoned America Fact: If I post a photo of some place that's clearly not in America and you say "whoa, wtf India's not in America" or whatever, I block you.

2023-08-14 05:12:48

- reply

@npub1n02…56rc thank you! He's only 5 so still fairly young in doggy years thankfully

2023-08-14 03:59:06

First day back out hiking around with Charlie Peanutbutter. He did great. I'm so glad he can go out and enjoy himself with us again ❤️
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/885/955/265/333/281/original/55eea9df169037d0.jpg

2023-08-13 03:47:21

It's been a while since I posted about our sweet Charles hound to give an update after he was viciously attacked by an unleashed dog in the neighborhood. Anyway, three weeks and a lot of heartache later he has almost completely recovered. He's back to his silly, frisky, timid self and we're getting him used to taking walks again. Thanks to everyone who cared and offered support. It's been an emotional rollercoaster but the important thing is he's out of the cone and happy.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/880/232/057/204/298/original/df4b1b4ee8369b6f.jpg

2023-08-10 06:36:51

- reply

@npub1j97…ehsy aw! It looks just like the ones in my yard ❤️

2023-08-06 04:11:23

Made a chipmunk friend* today. He was just chilling out about 3 feet away from me, figuring out whether I was going to make a move on him or whether he could just finish up his chipmunk business
* I have no idea whether he considered me a friend. Probably not. But I like to believe in my heart we had a shared moment and that he was my little buddy.
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/840/700/652/281/943/original/899de57d95ddca24.jpg

2023-08-06 04:05:02

- reply

@npub193r…ey05 haha yeah exactly

2023-08-06 04:03:55

- reply

@npub1pe9…cye6 I always say the way Pittsburgh became a city is from all the people who got lost and said "ah, hell with it, guess I live here now"

2023-08-05 02:37:07

Just looking through old photos & remembering when I was out shooting in western PA with my wife. Finished for the day & was leaving town when a torrential downpour started. Turned onto a narrow residential street lined with homes and parked cars and barely made out an odd, single headlight higher than any car approaching us. Squeezed into a parking spot just in time to miss being plastered by a train. The tracks ran right down the middle of the street and the warning signs were out. Good times
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/834/661/227/496/761/original/615b750f861dac90.jpg

2023-08-03 15:48:37

- reply

@npub19m7…3qua thanks! It is nice. Still can't completely evade stress but it does feel like there's slightly less and that's a relief

2023-08-01 06:36:13

Feeling grateful today for the fact that my mom offered to come and care for our pets while we went on vacation for a few days, and that my dad kindly let us use his RV to get away. The dog injury thing has been so stressful and we wouldn't have been able to have a vacation otherwise. I have been so lucky to have parents who are there for me. I know not everyone has that. There is not a single day that goes by that I am not profoundly appreciative of my family.

2023-07-31 02:17:06

- reply

@npub15qw…3p2z I'm not saying this like my solution is your solution but I seriously consider blocking people like that. They stir shit up so you get angry and frustrated about it and then have to deal with it for their entertainment. It's a lousy way to be. You don't have to let everyone know every time someone is crappy towards them, especially when they have a large account and it happens constantly.

2023-07-14 19:21:39

Abandoned mall
Gallery: https://www.abandonedamerica.us/randall-park-mall
https://files.mastodon.social/media_attachments/files/110/714/055/853/775/673/original/bc7cf2504c8bdb1a.jpg

2023-07-10 17:15:53

- reply

I really do hate that my notifications tab here resets to the top of I look at a comment though, that makes it incredibly difficult to keep track of what I have replied to and what I have not.

2023-07-10 17:11:56

- reply

The Mastodon experience has its own major issues - being forced back to the top of my replies every time I comment on one is such a headache, the fact that on a desktop there's an almost comically bad keyboard lag (at least, for me), finding accounts to follow could be a lot easier, we need more content creators, etc.
But the lack of a dictatorial algorithm helps a lot. I'm hoping that long after Threads comes and goes the Fediverse will remain.

2023-07-10 16:30:03

- reply

I do think it's worthwhile to see the areas Threads has improved on the Fediverse but it's the same old stuff people always complain about - search functionality, QRTs, onboarding, difficulty finding content/friends if you're a new user.
Having said that, Threads also reinforces the frequent argument that the Fediverse doesn't have to be The Mainstream Platform to be successful. It reminds me of Twitter currently - no substance or depth, just hucksters. In other words, about what I expected.

2023-07-10 16:20:29

- reply

Users complain about not seeing the people they follow on other Meta platforms but somehow it's worse on Threads - like, the feed is literally just a bunch of random influencers hollering substance-free Instagram platitudes. Idk, maybe that will work for some people but if all you're seeing is randos you're going to get bored really quickly. I think a lot of people signed up out of FOMO/curiosity and are going to stop using it if they can't manage their feed at all.

2023-07-10 16:16:45

Judge me if you want, but I created a Threads account - mostly to prevent impersonation, but also a bit out of curiosity.
Millions of users or not, it is at least at the moment a pretty lousy alternative to the Fediverse. Aside from my hatred of Meta, the feed is utter trash with no way to manage it, I can't even set a profile photo, and replies inexplicably don't show up. These are really basic design and usability issues that, if not addresses, will tank longer term user numbers