These 9 Unbelievable Ruins In Michigan Will Transport You To The Past
By Serena Maria Daniels|Published May 10, 2016
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Serena Maria Daniels
Author
Serena Maria Daniels is an award-winning freelance journalist in Detroit, by way of Chicago, by way of the West Coast. She writes about Michigan for OIYS. Serena enjoys learning about language and culture and taking road trips with her beagle Ralph.
Michigan, over the years, has transformed dramatically. From a once-important fur trading post for the United States and Canada, to a mining hub, the golden years of automotive manufacturing, and the epicenter for the middle class, the Mitten has seen it all. The result is countless reminders of our past that are visible in the many abandoned structures that once stood tall. Now, many are slowly being taken over by nature, or remain as mere shells of what they once were.
Here are some such places across Michigan. Have a look.
Constructed in 1926, this once glorious 4,000-seat Michigan Theater has seen better days. In recent years, it's served as a parking garage (and a set on the film 8 Mile).
From 1963 to 1999, this central Michigan spot served as a curious tourist trap, where visitors could get an idea of what the dinosaurs may have looked like. Today, the place is abandoned, but many weathered dino statues remain.
The now abandoned town of Fayette was once a busy industrial center point, where iron smelting ruled. Now known as Fayette Historic State Park, visitors can see a true-life representation of life in Upper Peninsula Michigan in the 19th century.
Here, we have the Quincy Smelter, which processed copper from local mining companies on the Keweenaw Peninsula between 1898-1957. The mines are long gone, but the remains of the plant still sit.
When the railroads ruled as a major source of transportation, this massive depot was one of the most impressive in the country. It's long sat vacant, though in recent years, there have been signs, albeit small, of renewal.
This TC institution at one time housed the ill. Now its tunnels and long vacant grounds are visited by thrill seekers, wanting to dig into the place's past.
The original Detroit Zoo sat on Belle Isle. Now it's in the suburb of Royal Oak, but remnants of the original location remain, though they're slowly being taken over by nature.
Reminds you of all that’s changed, huh? So we know seeing some of these places can bring up mixed emotions. But tell us, do you have any fond memories of these spots?
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