Abandoned Illinois: Secrets Behind the Spaces from Arcadia Publishing
Whether the structure is a large factory or a single family's homestead, deserted places leave clues to the time shared between the people who once occupied a space and the buildings themselves. These spots are scattered throughout Illinois, both in rural and city settings, and as seen through a camera lens, can clearly illustrate times of industrialization, family histories, and significant historical milestones. The first volume of Abandoned Illinois: Secrets Behind the Spaces documents stories from the past found in locations from Chicago and its surrounding areas to the near the shoreline of the Mississippi River and places found in between, including Joliet Prison, Goodman Manufacturing, and a completely vacant army depot, among others. Often overlooked, these abandoned places offer us important and interesting information about our pasts, both as individuals and as a society.
LISA BEARD is a fine art photographer who also enjoys writing and creating mixed media art. She was born and continues to live in Woodstock, IL, a suburb of Chicago, where she is also a high school teacher and LRC director. Throughout life, Lisa has been drawn to exploration, especially the history behind abandoned spaces, and to photographing and documenting it. Abandoned Illinois: Stories Behind the Spaces and Abandoned Illinois: Forgotten Places and Lost Histories are her first published books. Abandoned Wisconsin will soon follow. For more on Lisa and her work, please visit www.lisambeard.com.