Vanishing New York: Ruins across the Empire State

This photographic essay explores over 40 of New York's most evocative abandoned sites, capturing their individual stories in the larger context of the state's historical legacy. Photographer John Lazzaro traveled the state, documenting what remains of these places before they are swept away by time. Divided by region, the sites range from Catskills vacation destinations to Long Island psychiatric centers, revealing deeper social, cultural, and political changes that led to their decay.

Format: Hardback
Length: 208 pages
Publication date: 25 October 2022
Publisher: Schiffer Publishing Ltd

New York is a treasure trove of abandoned buildings, each bearing the scars of modernization and holding fascinating histories within their walls. This captivating photographic essay delves into over 40 of the most evocative abandoned sites across the Empire State, shedding light on their individual stories while placing them within the broader context of New York's rich historical legacy. Photographer and author John Lazzaro embarked on a journey across the state, capturing the remnants of these once-thriving places before they succumb to the relentless passage of time.

The sites, categorized by region, range from the Catskills, once bustling vacation destinations, to the melancholic psychiatric centers on Long Island. Each location unveils deeper social, cultural, and political transformations that contributed to their decline, offering a glimpse into a bygone era that is rapidly dissolving before our eyes.

These abandoned hospitals, schools, churches, railways, and estates serve as windows into a past that is rapidly vanishing. They provide a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of preserving our shared history. With a foreword by architectural historian and author Thomas Mellins, this book offers a valuable meditation on the interplay between decay and progress, remembrance and forgetfulness, past and present.

Through his lens, John Lazzaro has captured the essence of these forgotten spaces, immortalizing their remnants and preserving their stories for generations to come. This photographic essay is a testament to the enduring power of photography to capture and convey the beauty and complexity of the human experience.

Weight: 1508g
Dimension: 236 x 286 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780764363580