Abandoned Kentucky

The stunning images found in Abandoned Kentucky offer us a window into our past, showing life in the Bluegrass State as it was back then, and stirring in us a sense of wonder and curiosity about those who have gone before us and the lives they lived.

Go inside the historic Columbia Theatre in downtown Paducah and the shuttered Union Station depot in Henderson. From the Old Crow bourbon distillery along Glenn’s Creek to the Parker Tobacco Company in Maysville, and a once grand farmhouse in McLean County, these photographs showcase the rich history and untold stories of abandoned places from one corner of Kentucky to the other. 

Where others may see only decay and rot in these long-forgotten locations, Sherman Cahal, Adam Paris and Michael Maes see exquisite beauty.

EXQUISITE

Abandoned Kentucky is equal parts beauty, grit, and just plain COOL. It sits precisely at the intersection of historic preservation and artistic expression. At their essence, these photographs show us the bones of our history and give us a glimpse of ourselves as we were, all while standing on their own as lasting works of art. Excellent!

— Steve Shaffer, photographer and Emmy award-nominated television producer

HAUNTING

Even though the amazing images in Abandoned Kentucky are remnants of these subjects’ best lives, their stories continue to be told with a new focus thanks to this group of talented photographers.

— Darlene Mazzone, Columbia Art House Board Chair