Malls and public spaces across the country have started replacing some commercial ads with huge portraits of famous scientists, including rocket scientist Qian Xuesen, Nobel Prize winner Tu Youyou and agricultural scientist Yuan Longping.

The trend appears to have started in Shandong before spreading to other parts of China, with people even stopping to take photos in front of the displays.

The idea is simple: give the people behind major scientific breakthroughs the same kind of public attention usually reserved for actors, athletes and influencers

I recently finished exploring all 50 states to take pictures of abandoned and unusual things! This is my second post, the first covered 1-20, second post was 21-35, and this one is 36-50

If you like my work check out more of it on my insta: https://www.instagram.com/whimsicalruins/

1. Oklahoma

In 1922, the town of Hollister, Oklahoma dedicated $30,000 to build a magnificent brick school. For 46 years the school doubled as a community center. By 1968 the population of the town was in decline and the school was unable to enroll enough students to secure funding. In 1974 the building was mostly demolished but the four sturdy columns could not be safely brought down. They remain today, the last reminder of the vibrant school days of the past.

1. Oregon

At one nude beach in Oregon, a UFO peeks out of the woods at the edge of the sand. This is no extraterrestrial wreck; instead, it is the remains of a pleasure barge that was tossed ashore in 1996. Since then, it has become a canvas for local artists who may or may not work au naturel. 

1. Pennsylvania

Deep in the woods of central Pennsylvania lay a unique graveyard where hundreds of Volkswagen vehicles came to rest, rusting in the shade of the trees. Recently, the owner of this unique collection passed away, and it seems that the vehicles have all been sold at auction. Hopefully, these old bugs can continue their peaceful retirement elsewhere. 

1. Rhode Island

Newport, Rhode Island, is well known for its opulent mansions by the sea. The Bells mansion was built by a wealthy lawyer who filled it with his collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts. The property fell into neglect in the 1960s, and by 2023, all that remained were the fenced-off ruins of the carriagehouse and stables. In May 2023, four teenagers were seriously injured while exploring the ruins when the roof collapsed. The remaining structures were fully demolished following the accident. 

1. South Carolina

When Earth is visited by intelligent extraterrestrials, South Carolina is ready to receive them. The UFO Welcome Center was the passion project of Jody Pendarvis, who constructed the 46-foot-wide spaceship as a homey landing pad for any ETs who might pass by. Tragically, the UFO Welcome Center burned down on May 9th, 2024. Pendarvis suspects rival aliens might be behind the arson, stating, “Maybe another UFO came by and set the fire."

1. South Dakota

The origins of the name of Capa, South Dakota has been lost to time. One theory suggests that someone noticed that when train cars opened their doors at the station the word capacity was split into “capa city.” When the railway was rerouted, the town withered and died. The last and only resident continued to inhabit the old town until the early 2020’s. 

1. Tennessee

The Fairview School was built in the mid-1910s. After school hours the building served as a community center. A regular act were the Crazy Tennesseans, a group of as many as 14 performers. The local paper, the Knoxville Mercury, described the group as “they weren’t suave, they weren’t well-practiced, they weren’t even good looking.” 

1. Texas

In the 1920’s, business man Ed Young built a gas station using petrified wood, fossil-laden stone, and red brick. Ed realized that he could sell ethanol in two forms: pumping gasoline in the front and slinging moonshine in the back. During Prohibition, he claims to have sold more gallons of booze than gas. But when Prohibition lifted his business dried up, and the party was finally over at the Outlaw Station. 

1. Utah

The small town of Thistle, Utah was established in 1883. For 100 years, life in Thistle moved at a peaceful pace. Then, on April 17, 1983, a flash flood came rushing down into the town. Residents fled with whatever they could carry, some with only a few hour’s notice. Thankfully there were no fatalities, thanks to the quick work of volunteers who evacuated everyone to safety.

1. Vermont

The history of the treatment of mental illness is often dark. Thankfully, research into Brattleboro Retreat, which still operates as a mental health facility today, seems to paint a much rosier picture. In a 1894 newspaper article, the Vermont Phoenix declared, “All patients are kindly treated, and those in need of extra attention receive it.” The 65 foot cylindrical stone tower on the asylum’s grounds was constructed between 1887 and 1894 by patients themselves. For safety the tower entrance was bricked up in 1938.

1. Virginia

From 2004 to 2010, visitors to Presidents Park could meet the U.S. presidents face-to-15-foot-face. When the park closed, the 41 busts were moved to a recycling facility. While the private property is closed to the public, the owners offer periodic tours to see these unusual tributes to our country’s leaders. 

1. Washington

The Ocean City started service in 1923 on the Delaware River as a ferry. In 1984, it was rescued from scrap by an Anderson Island resident. It took 54 days to navigate it from Delaware to Washington. She turned out to be too expensive to operate. The owners still hope for her eventual restoration to glory, while the neighbors grumble about the eyesore. 

1. West Virginia

Lake Shawnee Amusement Park in West Virginia no longer attracts living children, but some say the spirits of dead children still play among the abandoned rides. Centuries before the park was built, the land was the site of a massacre of white settlers by Native Americans. Construction of the park also disturbed thousands of Native American burials. During the operation of the park, three more children died in accidents. Today, the park still attracts ghost hunters who want to communicate with these restless souls.

1. Wisconsin

In 1896, the church community of Rudolph, Wisconsin celebrated the opening of the St. Jacob's Evangelical Lutheran Church. At its opening, the church served 5 families, but rose to 22 families by 1923. In 1937 the name was changed to St. James Evangelical Lutheran Church. Unfortunately the rebranding didn’t boost the dwindling congregation, and it was closed on February 11, 1962. 

1. Wyoming

Piedmont was founded in 1867 by Moses Byrne and Charles Guild. At its peak, Piedmont boasted around 20 homes, 4 saloons, and a general store. The completion of the Aspen tunnel around 1910 rerouted railway traffic away from Piedmont, and by 1940, the town was in steep decline. Today, Byrne’s kilns remain, as do a handful of empty houses and the town cemeteries. 

Thank you for checking out my adventure!

Completed the rainbow today. 15 years in urology but this was my first green. Patients took B2 (makes urine very yellow) and methylene blue (makes urine blue) together and here we are.