Mr. P. Explores

Mr. P. Explores This page is the Facebook home of "Mr. P. Explores," documenting photographical adventures into abandoned locations, odd attractions and architectural gems!
(1)

Come along for the ride! Also, check out the "Mr. P.'s Tales from the Road" Podcast on Spotify!

This is a longer post today, but bear with me on it, as I feel that I need to bear witness to the passing of this amazin...
06/05/2026

This is a longer post today, but bear with me on it, as I feel that I need to bear witness to the passing of this amazing place. Yesterday, due to a massive fire that yesterday annihilated all that you will see in the photo set below, the Hudson Valley Psychiatric Hospital, for almost all intents and purposes, save for the charred shell of the structure, is gone. Investigations into the fire (which according to reports started in two separate areas of the building, making things seem quite suspicious) are not completed yet, but hopefully we will find out who was behind this. Despite its clear dangerous state, there WERE real plans to save portions of it, most importantly the beautiful administration building at the front, but that is now gone as well.

So, the story. Perched high above the Hudson River in Poughkeepsie, New York, the Hudson River State Hospital (later known as the Hudson River Psychiatric Center and Hudson Valley Psychiatric Hospital) was one of the most impressive and haunting psychiatric institutions ever built in the United States. The state purchased the property in 1867, and construction began shortly afterward on a massive Gothic-style complex designed under the Kirkbride Plan, a revolutionary 19th-century approach to mental health treatment that emphasized light, fresh air, and beautiful surroundings. The hospital opened to patients in 1871 and continued expanding for decades. Its grounds were landscaped by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, the same team that designed New York City's Central Park.

At its peak in the mid-20th century, the sprawling campus housed more than 6,000 patients and included workshops, farms, laboratories, recreation facilities, and numerous support buildings. Like many large state psychiatric hospitals, however, changing treatment philosophies, deinstitutionalization, and advances in medication gradually reduced the need for such enormous facilities. The original historic Kirkbride campus closed in 2003, while remaining psychiatric services continued elsewhere on the property until the broader psychiatric center finally shut down in 2012.

After closure, the abandoned complex became a magnet for trespassers, urban explorers, vandals, and (sadly, tragically) arsonists. Fires became a recurring tragedy. A lightning strike in 2007 caused a devastating blaze that destroyed large portions of one wing. Additional suspicious fires followed, including intentionally set fires in 2010, 2016, and a major arson fire in 2018 that heavily damaged the already deteriorating administration complex. No one was ever publicly charged in connection with the 2018 blaze.

Redevelopment plans eventually emerged under the name Hudson Heritage, a mixed-use community intended to preserve portions of the historic campus while adding housing, commercial space, and other development. Demolition of many auxiliary structures began in 2016, with additional buildings removed over the following years. While several historic structures were slated for preservation and adaptive reuse, progress moved slowly and large portions of the site remained vacant and vulnerable.

Then, in June 2026, just yesterday in fact, disaster struck again. A massive fire erupted in the abandoned complex, beginning in the Avery Building and spreading to multiple connected structures. More than a dozen fire departments responded as flames and smoke consumed portions of the historic campus. The blaze ultimately destroyed the landmark Administrative Building, one of the most significant surviving pieces of the original Kirkbride complex. Smoke could be seen for miles, nearby businesses were affected, and firefighters battled the inferno for more than a day. The cause remains under investigation, though officials noted the abandoned buildings had no electrical service. Many preservationists fear the 2026 fire may represent the final chapter for one of America's most architecturally significant psychiatric hospitals.

The site remains a mixture of redevelopment, demolition, preservation efforts, and loss. What was once a self-contained city devoted to mental health treatment has become one of the Hudson Valley's most famous abandoned landmarks; a place where grand Victorian architecture, changing attitudes toward mental illness, and decades of neglect have combined to create one of New York's most fascinating and tragic historic sites.

I try to explain the sheer majesty and magic of this place to anyone who has never been. To stand next to it, looking up at the architectural flourishes and to stand inside of it, no matter how terrifying the integrity of the floors might be, and settling in there with its dim mysteries and heavy, thick history, your camera in hand...that was to know the place and come to truly love the building and property. While I was only able to visit three times in the last few years, I know there are those of you out there who spent so, so much time there, in all seasons, for years, soaking up the personality of this beautiful old girl. My heart is breaking along with yours; whether you've been there once or a thousand times, she was quite a place to behold and witness. She'll be missed.

I do hope that they find the people or organization that may have made this happen. There is always the possibility a random individual started this fire, but considering the development plans and the fact that money for abatement on the asbestos in the building was significant, AND the reports that fire was seen in different parts of the building...it seems quite a lot suspicious. We shall have to wait and see what the investigation brings about.

That being said, here are a collection of photos from my three times spent here, each near full days of wandering, documenting and marveling. And my heart again is with all of you who also spent time here and who are grieving the loss of this truly fantastic building. Enjoy the photos and have a great day out there, all. -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

A wander through the now demolished and erased hallways, classrooms and auditorium of Don Hubert Elementary in Detroit, ...
06/03/2026

A wander through the now demolished and erased hallways, classrooms and auditorium of Don Hubert Elementary in Detroit, Michigan. We were able to explore this sad remnant mere months before the demolition began this past winter. It was painfully evident that fires had been a part of the advanced decay of this place over the years, starting with its closure in 2005. Enjoy the explore and have a great day out there, all. -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

The stripped down powerhouse of a much bigger industrial facility in rural Eastern Pennsylvania. The main factory once b...
06/02/2026

The stripped down powerhouse of a much bigger industrial facility in rural Eastern Pennsylvania. The main factory once built boilers for buildings big and small; we'll look at that a few posts on down the line. The sun and warm spring air and the breeze made this place such a pleasure to wander and explore, a perfect place to be on a Saturday morning. Enjoy and stay tuned for the larger facility as the week goes on. Have a good day out there, all! -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

Going all the way back to a very hot and sticky summer day in 2019; a look back through an abandoned funeral home in Det...
05/31/2026

Going all the way back to a very hot and sticky summer day in 2019; a look back through an abandoned funeral home in Detroit, Michigan. It would be four years before I was able to return, and as was the case back in those days, I had no idea what I was doing with my old Nikon D300. The place definitely got worse over the years, as places always do, but I was glad to get in here to see what the place looked like at the time. In any case, enjoy the look through and have an excellent Sunday out there, wherever you are and whatever you may be doing! -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

In a trip to Eastern Pennsylvania, early in the morning on a spring Saturday, we attempted to take a look at an abandone...
05/30/2026

In a trip to Eastern Pennsylvania, early in the morning on a spring Saturday, we attempted to take a look at an abandoned mill that was on our way further east. As sometimes happens, THAT was a bust, but as we were poking around, we found these amazing old trucks, as well as a stripped down old Volkswagen. A strange vehicle that didn't really fit with the others, but when given lemons, you make lemonade and shoot all of them. In any case, not a bad way to start an exploration day. Enjoy the shots and have a great Saturday all! -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

A continued journey through a rotting and slowly decaying New York ball bearing factory that was closed sometime in the ...
05/29/2026

A continued journey through a rotting and slowly decaying New York ball bearing factory that was closed sometime in the 1980's. Fires, vandalism, graffiti and the usual entropy that infects such places over time; all of this made for a place that was almost overwhelming to shoot. SO much going on here and I KNOW that I missed a ton due to the short amount of time we had before we had to head back to Ohio. As I mentioned before, I am looking to go back at some point down the line, before they wind up tearing it down like so many other places like it. Enjoy the further walkthrough and have an amazing continuation to your week! -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

Moored along Cleveland’s lakefront like some steel ghost from another age, the USS Cod is one of the most incredible sur...
05/28/2026

Moored along Cleveland’s lakefront like some steel ghost from another age, the USS Cod is one of the most incredible surviving pieces of World War II history anywhere in America. Built by the Electric Boat Company in Groton, Connecticut, the submarine’s keel was laid on July 21, 1942, just months after Pearl Harbor, during the desperate rush to expand America’s submarine fleet for the war in the Pacific. She was launched on March 21, 1943 and officially commissioned into the U.S. Navy on June 21, 1943 under Commander James C. Dempsey. The 312-foot Gato-class fleet submarine quickly became part of the brutal underwater war against Imperial Japan, completing seven war patrols during WWII and sinking more than a dozen enemy vessels totaling over 37,000 tons.

One of the most famous moments in Cod’s history came in July 1945 when she performed the only international submarine-to-submarine rescue in history, rescuing the stranded crew of the Dutch submarine O-19 after it ran aground on Ladd Reef in the South China Sea. The crew of Cod attempted to free the Dutch sub for days before finally evacuating the sailors and destroying O-19 so it would not fall into enemy hands. After the war, Cod was briefly mothballed, reactivated during the Cold War for training exercises, and eventually decommissioned on June 21, 1954. In 1959 she was towed through the newly opened St. Lawrence Seaway to Cleveland, where she became a Naval Reserve training vessel docked on Lake Erie. When the Navy finally struck the sub from service in the early 1970s, local preservationists fought to save her from the scrapyard. Thanks to the Cleveland Coordinating Committee to Save Cod, the submarine was preserved as a memorial museum and permanently moored downtown near Burke Lakefront Airport and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 1986, she was designated a National Historic Landmark. Unlike many museum submarines, Cod remains astonishingly original; visitors still enter the old-fashioned way through the actual hatches rather than modern doors cut into the hull. The cramped bunks, torpedo rooms, diesel smell, gauges, pipes and narrow passageways remain almost exactly as they were during the war, making it one of the most authentic WWII submarine experiences in the country. Over the decades, volunteers and veterans have painstakingly restored and maintained the vessel, even sending her for major drydock work in recent years to preserve the aging hull. Today, more than 80 years after she first slid into the water, the USS Cod sits watch over Cleveland’s harbor, a surviving relic of the a global war, naval history, and the young sailors who once served beneath the Pacific inside her steel hull.

Enjoy the view; trip made in the summer of 2023. Have a great day out there, all, and if you're ever in Cleveland, stop by the Cod. Well worth the cost of the ticket and the tour! -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

For decades, Baron Drawn Steel sat along Dorr Street in Toledo like a giant rusting monument to the city’s industrial pa...
05/27/2026

For decades, Baron Drawn Steel sat along Dorr Street in Toledo like a giant rusting monument to the city’s industrial past. Opened in 1964 during a time when Toledo’s factories were still roaring day and night, the plant specialized in drawn steel products and employed generations of workers from the Clinton Park neighborhood and surrounding areas. The place was enormous; a maze of rolling equipment, machine shops, warehouses, cranes, catwalks and soot-covered industrial corridors that seemed to stretch forever once nature and decay finally took hold. Like so many Midwestern industrial facilities, Baron Steel represented both pride and heartbreak at the same time. Families depended on it. The neighborhood grew around it. Then the long collapse of American heavy industry caught up with the place. The plant finally shut down around the early 2000s, laying off its remaining workers and leaving behind a contaminated brownfield site that slowly deteriorated for nearly twenty years. After closure, the property became one of Toledo’s best-known industrial ruins; a massive decaying shell full of collapsing roofs, broken windows, graffiti, rusted machinery and the eerie silence that settles into dead factories. Urban explorers and photographers documented the site heavily during the 2010s, drawn to its gigantic machine halls and haunting atmosphere. By 2023, the site had become such a blighted and contaminated eyesore that the Lucas County Land Bank began a major environmental cleanup and demolition project funded through state and federal programs. Crews removed asbestos and hazardous materials before tearing down the buildings piece by piece. Neighbors were relieved to finally see the dangerous ruins disappear, though concerns about asbestos dust and contamination lingered during demolition. Today, little remains of Baron Steel except memories, photographs, cracked pavement and empty land awaiting redevelopment; another piece of Toledo’s industrial era erased from the skyline, joining the long list of Rust Belt giants that once powered entire neighborhoods before fading into silence.

I have had the opportunity to explore Baron Steel three times before the final end came in 2023. Imagining what the place must have been like when it was full tilt, decades before was an exercise in the imagination. The glow of steel being poured, the sounds of hundreds of workers each doing their part to make a finished product possible, and the sheer heat of it all, pulsing day and night. These photos were taken in March of 2021, two years before the final blow. Hopefully you can also get a sense for what a living and breathing operation it must have once been. Enjoy the photos and have a great middle to your week, all. -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

A nighttime wandering around the rather liminal Poughkeepsie Station in Poughkeepsie, New York. The station is a Metro-N...
05/26/2026

A nighttime wandering around the rather liminal Poughkeepsie Station in Poughkeepsie, New York. The station is a Metro-North Railroad and Amtrak stop serving the city and is the northern terminus of Metro-North's Hudson Line, and an intermediate stop for Amtrak's several Empire Corridor trains.

Built in 1918, the main station building is meant to be a much smaller version of Grand Central Terminal in New York City. It was a source of civic pride when it opened. In 1976 it was added to the National Register of Historic Places as Poughkeepsie Railroad Station; it and Philipse Manor are the only Hudson Line stations outside Manhattan to be so recognized.

The strangest thing was that we were able to just walk down the access stairs and simply be there. Shooting however we cared to. No one had an issue, which is something you'd probably not encounter back west. There were a few later-night people who were waiting for the train back to NYC hanging about, but for the most part, we had the platform to ourselves for an hour or so. Much different than it is during the day! In any case, enjoy the shots from the station and have a great Tuesday out there, wherever you are. -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

A return to a former tool manufacturing factory in Buffalo, New York in the earlier months of 2026. Even though I've bee...
05/25/2026

A return to a former tool manufacturing factory in Buffalo, New York in the earlier months of 2026. Even though I've been here several times before, there is always something new to capture that I've missed on prior visits. And to be honest, this place has changed a LOT since 2019; much more in the way of collapsed ceiling areas, an entire section had caught on fire, and things far more scattered around than ever before. Who knows where it will be in another seven years? Enjoy the revisit and have a great Memorial Day out there, all. -Mr. P.

MR. P. INFO:
FOR MORE MR. P. ADVENTURES, FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM:
https://www.instagram.com/mr.p_explores/ .p_explores
ON TWITTER: https://twitter.com/ExploresMr
ON BLUESKY: https://bsky.app/profile/mrpexplores.bsky.social
ON FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/mrpexplores/

Address

Cleveland, OH

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Mr. P. Explores posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category