History
Abandoned Mansions in America: Why Grand Homes Get Left
Why are there abandoned mansions in America? A short history of grand estates – rising costs, taxes, changing cities – and what it takes to save one.
Stories
History, architecture, rural America, and the ethics of exploring and photographing abandoned places – all original writing.
Etiquette
Leave No Trace: Etiquette for Historic and Abandoned Places
Leave no trace principles for visiting historic, rural or abandoned places with permission – take nothing, leave nothing, protect the stories they hold.
Photography
Ethical Abandoned-Place Photography: A Respectful Guide
How to photograph abandoned houses ethically and legally – getting permission, shooting from public property, protecting privacy and sharing responsibly.
Law & Safety
Squatters' Rights Explained: What Owners Should Know
Squatters' rights explained for US owners: squatting vs. trespassing vs. tenancy, how adverse possession fits in, and how to protect a vacant house.
Law & Safety
The Legal Side of Exploring Abandoned Places
Is it legal to explore abandoned houses? Entering without permission is trespassing. What the law says, how to ask owners for permission, staying safe.
Science of Decay
Why Do Abandoned Houses Decay So Fast?
Why do abandoned houses fall apart so quickly? How water, lost heat, mold, pests, plants and vandalism work together – and how owners can slow decline.
Rural America
Rural Farmhouses and the Story of Rural Decline
Why so many old farmhouses stand empty in rural America – mechanization, farm consolidation and migration, and what these houses tell us about the past.
Neighborhoods
How to Tell If a House Is Abandoned: 12 Common Signs
How to tell if a house is abandoned – 12 common signs like piled-up mail, overgrown yards and utility notices, plus how to confirm using public records.
Communities
What Happens to Abandoned Houses? Demolition, Land Banks, and Rehab
What happens to abandoned houses in the US? Code enforcement, tax foreclosure, land banks, demolition and rehab – the common paths vacant homes take.
Architecture
Architectural Styles You'll See in Old American Houses
A friendly field guide to old American house styles – Greek Revival, Victorian, Foursquare, Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Tudor Revival and the farmhouse.
History
Why Houses Get Abandoned in the United States
Why do houses get abandoned in the US? Foreclosure, tangled inheritances, population loss, repair costs and disasters – the most common reasons explained.