Cresson Prison

Enjoy this series of photos from the abandoned Cresson Prison.  These are some of the hundreds of photos I captured on this photo walk.

Pittsburgh Theater

Early in the pandemic I visited this classic Pittsburgh location.  It was a former performing arts theater.  Now its rotting away. 

Prison Gym

Enjoy this small series of photos from the abandoned Cresson Sanatorium and Prison. 

Cresson Prison Tunnels

During our time at the abandoned Pennsylvania SCI (State Correctional Institution) Cresson prison facility, I spent a little time exploring the underground tunnels by myself.  No electricity, so my flashlight was the only light source.  Just a little creepy.

Razor Wire

Here is another photo from my recent exploration of the abandoned prison in central Pennsylvania.  The SCI Cresson campus is interesting for a number of reasons.  This photo isn’t the typical prison photo, if there is such a thing.  But I liked this perspective.

SCI Cresson

Yesterday I got a chance to explore the abandoned SCI (State Correctional Institution) Cresson campus in central Pennsylvania.  The State closed this prison in 2013.  Along with being a prison it was also a mental hospital in the past (before being a prison) and before that it was a TB sanatorium.  The sanatorium opened in 1912 after 500 acres was donated to the cause.  It was originally known as Allegheny Tuberculosis Sanatorium.    

Towards the end of the day, I found the solitary confinement area of the prison.  All the cells had a normal prison bed, but not this one.  How bad do you have to be to get assigned to this cell?  I’m guessing very very bad.  I can’t imagine being chained to this bed.

Pripyat Culture Center’s Swimming Pool

Here are a few photos (pre-war) of the community swimming pool in downtown Pripyat.  This spot within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone is very close to the iconic Chernobyl Ferris Wheel.

 

I’m sure that all visitors to Chernobyl visit both the Ferris Wheel and this swimming pool.

 

My heart continues to break for the people of Ukraine….  I’m going to run out of Ukraine photos soon that I haven’t posted already.  I realize that by posting my Ukraine photos, that it doesn’t help the people of Ukraine.  But I hope in some small way, it keeps them and their situation in our thoughts.

Pripyat Ukraine Hot Spots

Here are some more of my favorite Chernobyl Exclusion Zone spots (pre-war).  By the way, I’m still sad about what’s happening there.

Pripyat riverside Cafe

Office

Hospital utility room

Elementary School stairs case

Chernobyl Basketball Courts

I’m shocked and happy that the Ukrainian people (civilians and military) are holding the Russian military back.  Surprisingly, the Russian military doesn’t seem very competent, despite their advantage in equipment, size and training.

Here are some photos I took inside to abandoned basketball courts within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Chernobyl Vehicles

There are a bunch of abandoned vehicles within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  Even though the rules prohibit removing anything from the Zone due to radioactivity, everything has been picked over including the vehicles.  It’s hard to find any vehicle that hasn’t had numerous parts salvaged by scrappers.  Note…these photos are pre-war. 

Pripyat Hospital

I’ll keep the Ukraine photo theme going.  I don’t know about you, but I keep watching and reading everything I can find about the war in Ukraine.  I’m so sad about what’s happening and mad at the Russian government for doing it. 

I took these photos (pre-war) inside the abandoned hospital in the city of Pripyat, Ukraine.  This city is inside the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone and a few miles from the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Surgical Room

Hospital supply room

Optical Exam Room

I don’t know what this hospital bed was for

Baby nursery

Another nursery room in the OB department

Chernobyl Abandoned Boats

It’s great to see and hear about the Ukraine people fighting back and not letting the Russian military run right over them.  But I can only imagine the toll they are paying in blood to make that happen.  I stand with Ukraine!!

Here are some photos I took (pre-war) of abandoned ships in the Chernobyl River (technically this is near Pripyat which is the city next to the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plants.

Abandoned ship

Abandoned boat leaning to port

Same boat as the 2nd photo above.

Lifeguard station at a kids summer camp on the river

Maximum Security

After taking this photo of this prison cell, I went into the cell and took it from the opposite direction.  When I did that, I closed the door 75% of the way closed.  Good thing I didn’t close it completely because it wouldn’t reopen.  I almost locked myself in….. that would have been a huge problem.

This is the Maximum-Security wing of an abandoned Pennsylvania prison. 

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Jupiter

Did you have a great week?  I’m glad we’re going into the weekend, and I can get some things done around the house.

 

Today’s photo is from the abandoned Jupiter Factory in Pripyat Ukraine, which sits a few miles from Chernobyl and is within the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  The Russians claimed the factory made cassette recorders, but in reality it made semiconductor components for their military.  We spent a couple hours exploring this site during our 2018 Chernobyl trip. 

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Bonaire Flamingo

Blair and I explored this partially built, abandoned hotel the last time we were in the country of Bonaire together.  Since then, I think someone has started to redevelop this site. 

Either way, I loved the graffiti flamingo painted on this patio column.

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Chernobyl Crane Assembly

During our 2018 Chernobyl trip, we explored the city of Pripyat, Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plants and the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.  In the Exclusion Zone, we came upon this waterfront crane which was used to load and unload ships.  The entire crane is cool, but I focused my time capturing smaller sections of it to highlight the details. 

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