Urban Exploring Outside of MD

Although this blog focuses on abandoned places in Maryland, I would like to acknowledge places outside of the state. These places exists throughout the country and even across the world.

I came across a movie title at the store the other day that struck my interest, "Session 9". Upon viewing the film, I discovered that it was a fictional tale of horror filmed at the abandoned Danvers State Mental Hospital in Massachusetts. It was interesting to watch the extra features that showed more of the large, fascinating property.

This Boston.com news article discussed how the popularity of the hospital may have increased after the movie was released. Because it is private property, "Since 2000, police have made 120 arrests for trespassing at the 500-acre site of the former Danvers State mental hospital".


I also mentioned in an earlier blog that I visited The Farm Colony in New York. This Historic Preservation website states that the colony was a poor farm. The nearby Seaview Hospital treated tuberculosis patients. This was one of my favorite places that I have ever visited, as it was so unique. The Farm Colony contains many buildings with beautiful archways and even a skeleton greenhouse structure.

-All photos taken by me: Allison Nagy

Urban Exploration: What is it?

Although people have been exploring forever, the idea of defining the term "urban exploration" is fairly new, and has different meanings to many people. The first time that I entered an abandoned hospital, I wasn't thinking, "Yes, let us go urban exploring". I was thinking, "Wow, look at this amazing building! We have to go inside"! This first trip, on a cold fall night, inspired a curiosity inside me and I had to see more. I had to know everything about the building. When I went home, I researched everything I could about the place and even found a map of the property. During my research, it was then that I saw the term: urban exploration. This led to a number of intriguing websites, created by people who loved the same thing as me.

Recently, I went to The Farm Colony, scattered with abandoned buildings in the woods of New York. I came across several other people taking pictures and asked them if they called this urban exploring, or if they were familiar with the term. One of the girls simply stated: "I call it fun". She told me about her plans to access an abandoned Staten Island shipyard in the near future.

I felt the exact same way, but I do feel that defining the term has helped others such as myself to find new places to explore.

This New York Times article discusses urban exploration, bringing the seemingly underground topic to light and acknowledging some of the websites.