Diary of Abandonment

Photographer of lost histories and abandoned homes in America.

Meet the Artist

I’m Laura, a photographer, genealogist, and writer dedicated to capturing the lost histories of abandoned places, ghost towns, and forgotten homes. Since 2015, I’ve photographed over 900 sites and relics, ranging from rural farmhouses to decaying churches, schools, and historic cemeteries across multiple states in the U.S. My work focuses on documenting lost architecture and tracing family heritage. I uncover the stories behind the photos by building family trees on Ancestry using military and census records, wills, deeds, and graves. I upload images to their families so descendants can see where their ancestors once lived and thrived. I also add headstones to FindAGrave to inspire personal family history journeys and preserve our American ruins. Diary of Abandonment is an invitation to wander through time’s forgotten corners and explore the soulful beauty of urban decay photography.

Follow my adventures on social media to rediscover the past!

Blogs

Chesterfield, Idaho: Ghosts in the Snow

Snow crunched under my feet as I stood at the edge of Chesterfield, a Mormon ghost town in Caribou County, tucked away in a part of Idaho that seemed to be forgotten. It had snowed more than I had expected or prepared for, lacking...

Martha's Log Cabin

In the rolling hills of Stokes County, North Carolina, a modest log cabin stands as a testament to a family’s resilience, love, and loss. Found on the same land as a farmhouse I considered buying a few years ago, this primitive...

Bolch/Bolick Cemetery

Just a stone's throw from Spencer Road in Hickory, NC, a long-abandoned cemetery holds the stories of one of Catawba County's earliest pioneer families. Overlooked by the daily rush of people passing by, its location is marked...

Sheldon Church Ruins

The Old Sheldon Church, once known as Prince William's Parish Church, stands as a testament to the resilience of South Carolina's history. Built in the 1750’s in a Greek Revival style, the church has faced destruction multiple...

2nd Lt. Fred Brewer

To honor our fallen heroes, this story highlights the experiences of two World War II veterans. One soldier continues to live at the age of 101, a testament to the sacrifice of another who, at the age of 23, gave his life. While...

Infiltrating Alcatraz

Mr. Nanney was the first property owner I ever interviewed almost ten years ago. Up until I met him, my weekend hobby of photographing and poking around in old houses was just that. But after meeting him, my love for abandoned...

The McLendon Cabin

When Joel McLendon came to Moore County in 1758 to claim his grant of 200 acres, he selected a slope overlooking Buck Creek as the perfect site for his home. Built around 1760, he constructed this 1.5 story, single pen log cabin...

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The Old Scotch Graveyard

“In this graveyard, the earliest settlers sleep: the old man and infant child lie side by side, emphasizing the brevity of life and the small difference between a long life and a short one. All that tread the globe are but a handful...

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Randolph Macon College

Even though these particular ruins suggest otherwise, Randolph Macon College is the oldest college still in continuous operation today. Located along the Virginia Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail, the old Randolph Macon...

Thistle Ghost Town

The only evidence that remains of a once bustling railroad town is this single homestead, half submerged in an algae covered pond in the Spanish Fork Valley of Utah. Known as Thistle Ghost Town, it was originally settled by pioneers...

Support

Keep the flame of abandoned stories and America’s forgotten architecture burning with a small donation. Your gift helps Diary of Abandonment shine a light on lost history, one haunting photograph at a time.