Abandoned

Today's post is a collection of photos I took at the Missouri Mines National Historic site.  It's a huge building just south of Bonne Terre... not well advertised but easy to find right off the highway.  The building was an old lead mine that was abandoned.  The state turned it into a museum that tells the story of the mining industries of southern Missouri.  When we went there we had the pleasure of getting a private tour from an amazing elderly woman who grew up in the area and had family that worked the mine.  She didn't make it far in her education but life turns out funny sometimes and she ended up becoming a teacher for children in the area.  The stories she had were fascinating.  On the other side of the museum there is an extensive rock and mineral museum.  I had to drag my kids out of the phosphlorescent room!  If you ever get a chance to go, I highly recommend it. 

When you enter the place you get an eerie feeling like you shouldn't be there.  Everything is rusty and broken.  There are danger signs all around about lead tailing restricted areas.  But when you really look the place is like a wonderland for a photographer.  The texture and grittiness translate to interesting pictures.