Product Description

Ghostly Ruins shows you both the life and death of thirty structures, from transportation depots, factories, and jails to amusement parks, mansions, hotels, and entire towns. Author Harry Skrdla gives a guided tour of these marvelous structures at their peak of popularity juxtaposed with their current state of haunted decrepitude. Like a seasoned teller of ghost stories, Skrdla’s words and images show you what lies beyond the gates and beneath the floorboards. There are the infamous Eastern State Penitentiary and Bethlehem Steel factory in Pennsylvania, the Packard Motors Plant and Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit, and Philip Johnson’s New York State Pavilion from the 1964/65 World’s Fair.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63207 in Books
• Published on: 2006-09-28
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

T: The New York Times Style Magazine, Fall 2006
These inventories of fallen monuments to our ambition as a nation are unsettling for what they say about our culture.

Metro Times, Nov. 28, 2006
The effect is meditative and fine; the book will appeal to anybody acquainted with the pleasures of the unseen.

Detroit News, Nov. 4, 2006
Curl up in front of a roaring fire with Ghostly Ruins, eerie, black-and-white photographs of dozens of gorgeous old ruins.

Customer Reviews

A Must Have!
Beautiful, haunting black and white photographs, I just love this book, I could not put it down. A book you will look at and read over and over again. Imagine my surprise to see the West Baden Springs Hotel listed! It is 2 miles from my home. Mr. Skrdla, you should see it now!! It is amazing!

Photos from an enthusiatic expert
Who could not fall for the enthusiasm of Mr. Skrdla? He expertly details the rise and fall of these remarkable ruins, from design to construction to abandonment. He casts a wry eye on how greed often contribute to these ruins' demise. The photographs are very good, particularly when he pairs before-and-after views. Highly recommended for any student of architectural photography, urban affairs, wealth, and just about anything American.

Mr. Skrdla, we need a sequel!

Great coffee table book!
This book is full of interesting places which we all wish we could visit. The photograhy in this book is classic black and white. With the perfect amount of information not to make it boring. I love this book.