Discovery Exploration
Some of the world's most incredible engineering projects now lie in ruins. Get an inside look at these decaying places that are home to countless mysteries and untold secrets waiting to be rediscovered.
Watch MYSTERIES OF THE ABANDONED now on SCI Go.
West Virginia Penitentiary 01:22
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West Virginia Penitentiary 01:22
According to the United States Department of Justice, the West Virginia Penitentiary in Moundsville, WV was one of the most violent prisons in operation until its closure in 1995. At its peak, it housed more than 2,000 inmates including the mother of the infamous cult leader and murderer Charles Manson.
Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum 01:24
The Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was meant to revolutionize the treatment of the mentally ill, but it would become of house of horrors. As the population increased from a mere 250 patients to 2,400, conditions spiraled out of control.
Portland Breakwater Fort 01:17
The Portland Breakwater Fort, originally designed to defend against a French invasion force, was integral to England's security in a rapidly changing world. It endured both World Wars, successfully defending against naval and aerial assaults. The fort also served as a critical rally point for the allied forces ahead of the Omaha Beach D-Day invasion.
Willamette Falls Sawmill 01:22
Once the beating heart of Oregon City's industrial district, the Willamette Falls Sawmill now lies in disrepair. The mill was critical to the development of burgeoning industries throughout the Pacific Northwest including lumber, electricity, and paper. It even was responsible for the first long distances transmission of electricity.
Keroman Submarine Base 01:28
The Keroman Submarine Base is a brutalist nazi relic of World War II. The base was crucial to the Battle of the Atlantic, the longest continuous campaign of World War II. It was designed to repair and replenish German u-boats and it survived countless Allied bombings, thanks to a unique design that shielded harbored u-boats from damage.
Larson Airbase Titan I Missile Silo 01:18
Once at the forefront of America's nuclear defense system, the Larson Airbase's Titan I Missile silos now lie abandoned and flooded with groundwater. These silos were built to withstand a nuclear attack and were armed with missiles 100 times more powerful than the atomic bomb.
More From This ShowVemork Hydroelectric Power Plant 01:08
The Vemork Hydroelectric Power Plant was essential to the nazi nuclear program until a brave band of Allied saboteurs destroyed the plant's heavy water production facility. This is the heroic story of the Allied special forces that risked life and limb in the most successful clandestine operation of World War II.
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