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‘Tossed Around by Nature’: Photographer Captures Exceptionally ‘Haunting’ Look of Abandoned Schools in New Orleans

One could argue that since more waking hours are often spent in school or at work, these places could be considered as a home away from home, complete with their own surrogate families.

It is for this reason that hobbyist photographer Will Crusta thinks abandoned schools look particularly “haunting.”

“…because a lot of kids grew up knowing these places as their second homes, and for it just to be completely frozen and lifeless was super eerie,” Crusta said in an email to TheBlaze.

TheBlaze has been profiling some of Crusta’s work documenting abandoned spaces in New Orleans that were ravaged by Hurricane Katrina and have been left in their dilapidated state. We’ve shown TheBlaze readers his photographs of an abandoned Six Flags and of a hospital and movie theater.

“I hope my audience sees how breathtaking places like this can be, because I’m sure some people who see my photos will never actually see places holding these qualities with their own eyes,” Crusta said. “These are places that have been tossed around by nature, relatively untouched by man and frozen in time. That’s something really unique to behold, and the UrbEx subculture revels in that sort of thing.”

Abandoned schools in the area seem to have been frequented the most by Crusta. Of the 11 albums of different places where he has gone “Urban Exploring” (UrbExing), five were schools. Here is a sampling of the shots he’s taken at schools, but you can find all of the images here.

These photos are of a school in the Central City neighborhood. Here’s what Crusta wrote about the experience on his Flickr site:

Went in the greenhouse first, then the annex building. Got freaked out upon seeing signs and newspapers and stuff around the place dated as recently as two months ago, and left shortly after. Found out later that after being wrecked in Hurricane Katrina, only the annex building had been re-opened by the Recovery School District and used as an alternative school for high school kids that kept repeating grades, but vandalism to the electrical system in January of this year caused it to close down.

This other school (photographed below) was located in Central City and, as Crusta points out, “the windows/ walls were torn out completely, so much of the building is exposed to the elements in addition to having suffered extensive damage in Hurricane Katrina.”

The photos below were taken from a high school in City Park.

As for what’s next on the UrbEx hit parade, Crusta told TheBlaze he’s not sure yet, but he does want to cover areas beyond New Orleans at some point.

“Someday, I hope to go through a warehouse or other type of industrial facility. I started to go through a power plant here in New Orleans, but only saw part of the first floor before getting discovered and told to leave. Not by the police, but by guys in trench coats who could have been mafia members for all I knew.”

Now that’s a story for another time.

Take a look at all of Crusta’s UrbEx photos here.

Comments (61)

1 2
  • CommunityOrganizerLOL
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:21pm

    Haha, look at all of that beautiful proletarian “art!”

    Report Post »  
  • Sirfoldallot
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 4:32pm

    Y go 2 schrool when u can carry a gun & sell crack.

    Report Post » Sirfoldallot  
    • grayling646
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 4:48pm

      Took me a minute to decipher your statement. Reminds me of when I was on Facebook.

      Report Post »  
    • swamp_donkey
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:35pm

      yet another reminder of the bush/cheney years what a nightmare

      Report Post »  
    • claymoremacm
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:55pm

      Public Schools are the primary reason for our countries demise union socialist teaching our children Bill Ayers knows it.

      Report Post » claymoremacm  
    • Inlightofthings
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 7:46pm

      SWAMP_DONKEY
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:35pm
      yet another reminder of the bush/cheney years what a nightmare
      ____________________________________________________________

      Yep. You’re right Swamp Jacka$$, Bush/Cheney DID build that. I remember when Bush/Cheney started construction on the city that was built well below sea level with levies, dikes, sea walls and all the other suggestions that the Army “corpse” of Engineers recommended to keep it safe in the event of a category 5 hurricane. Yep…thanks for reminding us of that reminder you moron.

      Report Post »  
  • grayling646
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 4:25pm

    So emotional. I was so moved. NOT!!!
    My old school was demolished several years ago. I had to pass by when visiting my parents. I literally watched it disappear. Nothing. Notta. No emotion at all. See Ya!!!

    Report Post »  
  • Sewn Together
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 4:11pm

    My confusion is coming with the waste. The desks looked to be in perfectly good shape. Why aren’t they being used some place? The basketball hoop looked to be in fine condition. Why isn’t it being used someplace? Couldn’t the salvagable items be sold to raise revenue? Or used in the rebuild? Why are perfectly good items being allowed to sit and let nature (or vandals) destroy them? Why not sell the items for revenue to help rebuild?

    Report Post » Sewn Together  
    • AmericanPatriot
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:05pm

      I’m with you on this. Such a complete and total waste!

      Even some of the photographers other “project” areas show the total waste of good buildings. Thought there was a shortage of those in N.O. after Katrina. At the very least, they could have been used as living quarters for some whose homes were being rebuilt.

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot  
    • swamp_donkey
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:36pm

      they are still waiting for “the decider” bush

      Report Post »  
  • Farmer John
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 2:46pm

    I‘m not sure why some upcoming entrepreneur hasn’t used the empy green house to grow “medical” marijuana. What a waste of a good green house!

    Report Post » Farmer John  
  • Mary Just
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 2:03pm

    The student assignment about Affirmative Action shown in the photo’s is so poetic with this dilapidated school that taught lies and political correctness. As this school rots so does our country with the ever watchful eye of the modern day Gestapo being DHS, FBI, local Police Depts, NSA etc watching your every move and task.

    Report Post »  
  • banjarmon
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:55pm

    Waiting on Government to fix things is like waiting for the sun to go out…Where is the self reliance of these people and the PRIDE to restore a broken life,making it better that it was before!!

    Report Post » banjarmon  
  • Aerocog
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:49pm

    It’s so sad to think that New Orleans was once the largest, most important and cultural rich cities in the United States for more seventy years and within thirty years and one bad hurricane the town has became a shell of it’s former self.

    Report Post »  
    • swamp_donkey
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:38pm

      helluva job brownie, lol ,

      Report Post »  
    • CrawfishFestival2
      Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:24am

      The Black Corruptocrats in power looted the city coffers – and the bank accounts of the New Orleans Public Schools – padding the expenses – mayor’s aunt on the payroll under her maiden name – “teachers” who had not walked into the classroom in Ten and Sixteen years – on Sick Leave – without ever having a Medical Evaluation, etc.

      That is why prior to Katrina, some classrooms did not have teachers…..the hiring quota was met – w embezzlers on the payroll.

      Report Post »  
  • Liztaylor1982
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:17pm

    These photos are a testament of goverment’s falure. Before the storm they were failing and after the storm they are still failing. The end result is always failure — when will the liberals get these concept. A bright fuure is with the private sector. If government had offered incentives for the private sector to invest in NO — the city would be a booming –

    Report Post » Liztaylor1982  
    • SovereignSoul
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 3:33pm

      If capitalism and the private sector are the answers government subsidies and incentives should be unnecessary.

      Report Post » SovereignSoul  
    • AmericanPatriot
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:09pm

      I disagree. It’s also the failure of those who once used these areas. If there had been some enterprising soul who was willing to restore or recondition these places for current use, I believe the government would have stood aside and happily let them do their thing. But none have. Sad.

      Report Post » AmericanPatriot  
  • scootervanneuter
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:17pm

    God punished the most evil city in America – don’t provoke Him

    Report Post » scootervanneuter  
  • FREEDOMoverFEAR
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:06pm

    What happened to Galveston, TX after 12,000 people died in the 1900 hurricane? No heavy equipment no government assistance they just rebuilt. Why hasn’t that happened in New Orleans? The people who live there are mostly POS is why.

    Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
    • jake-spoon
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:44pm

      The actual hurricane missed N.O. by miles. The damage was done when Cheney and Bush planted explosives in the levee and flooded the city. The storm blew away the Miss. gulf coast, which has bounced back nicely. Clean up around my house began before the wind died down. Although it was a month before a roof was back on my house. Two weeks without water and electricity.A lot of people in N.O. waited for someone(mexicans) to clean up there.

      Report Post »  
    • FREEDOMoverFEAR
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 8:29pm

      DAMN YOU BUSH AND CHENEY. They blew up the twin towers they blew up the levees in New Orleans. I heard they beat up Santa and shot the Easter Bunny too.

      Report Post » FREEDOMoverFEAR  
    • jake-spoon
      Posted on August 19, 2012 at 6:24am

      Didn’t kanye say Bush blew up the levees? He’s a celebrity,so it’s got to be true.

      Report Post »  
  • right field
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:41pm

    The South got over the Civil War as well – but the horrors of that era still lurk in the background of public policy that is forever being used by all politicians to make sure the punishments and political “payoffs” go on and on and on and on . . ..
    New Orleans will only improve when the people who actually live there decide that it is time to take responsibility for improving their communities. If the buildings were privately owed, there would be fines and taxes and penalties for not “demolishing” the buildings. But since it is the “government” that is responsible (and the government cannot be sued for negligence) then the buildings will just sit and decay and the property will decline – It does look like Detroit.

    Report Post »  
  • blackyb
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:12pm

    The schols say to believe.
    Believe what?

    Trust what?

    Achieve what?

    Report Post » blackyb  
    • Mary Just
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 1:57pm

      Believe what the government and the media tell you

      Trust the government because they are always working for you

      Achieve to become a good citizen as the government instructs you

      Report Post »  
  • lukerw
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:11pm

    Pompeii 2…

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • blackyb
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:09pm

    Believe What?
    Trust What?

    Report Post » blackyb  
  • Tx1patriot
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:03pm

    This is the second such story I have seen this week about poor old New Orleans. What neither story contained about the on going investigation involving corruption as a result.

    http://www.wwltv.com/news/local/orleans/Analyst-Nagin-to-be-implicated-in-public-official-bribery-case-160507065.html

    http://www.wwltv.com/home/Former-city-contractor-Fradella-pleads-guilty-160528115.html

    Report Post »  
    • CaptPK_in_the_Gulf
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:53pm

      It is indeed a shame (and a crime) when unscrupulous people take advantage of any situation “of need” to make an unwarranted profit, but it’s not the first or last time this kind of corruption will be discovered.

      The rebuilding efforts after a hurricane seem especially pron to corruption and illegal activities. Look up information about contractor scams, failed insurance claims, and local government corruption as a result of Hugo in Charleston, South Carolina, and Andrew in Mayport, Fl … just to name two.

      Report Post »  
    • CrawfishFestival2
      Posted on August 19, 2012 at 4:27am

      It is about time there are indictments.

      Report Post »  
  • Zipit
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:38am

    My guess is that there are a whole lotta people down there who simply say “why hasn’t someone fixed this”, instead of getting together as a community, cleaning this mess up and getting on with life! Take a lesson from Joplin Mo, the Missippi gulf coast and Biloxi. Accept some personal responsibility, and work hard to make your lives and your community something other than a hopeless victimized ghost town!!!

    Report Post »  
  • CaptPK_in_the_Gulf
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:35am

    I moved to southern Louisiana in October ‘05 just after Katrina to run a supply boat out in the Gulf to help repair the US oil fields that were damaged in the storm.

    Here’s what I know: The damage in New Orleans was more due to the neglected and poorly maintained flood walls and levies. Had the city spent more money on proper maintenance on these structures the flood damage would have been far less.

    Having lived all along the Gulf coast in the past 8 years – from Cameron, La to Biloxi, Ms, I can tell you Katrina’s main destructive force hit hardest in Long Beach, Gulf Port and Biloxi, Mississippi. In New Orleans’ east side, houses were flooded because of broken flood controls meant to prevent such damage. On the Mississippi coast. houses were leveled; demolished; just plain gone after the storm, due to the furry of the storm and not because of broken infrastructure.

    Why don’t most people know that the Mississippi coast was harder hit by Katrina than New Orleans? Because the people in Mississippi didn’t wait for the federal government to come and “fix” things. The people in Mississippi got out and helped each other, cleaned up their own properties, helped feed each other – they did it on their own. Within eight months the Ms coast was back up and running.

    Truthfully – today, seven years later people in New Orleans are STILL complaining and waiting for the government and it’s why you can still take pictures like these.

    I’m tired of hearing about it!!!!

    Report Post »  
    • julie w
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 2:29pm

      Thank you for sharing. I’ve heard some of these things off and on through the years as well. Especially about the neglected and poorly maintained flood walls and levies. So many pointed a finger at Bush saying it was “his fault”. Give me a break! No president is perfect but it’s not the responsibility of any American President by far (including Obama) to make sure flood walls and levies in every state are up to standard and code.

      Report Post »  
    • swamp_donkey
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 6:43pm

      wrong again the levees were poorly designed by army corp of engineers and still havent been fixed

      Report Post »  
  • blazingaway
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:17am

    mother nature should do that to a hole lot of schools and could take a lot of the people in them with her.

    Report Post » blazingaway  
  • Uncurable wound
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:59am

    One less government run brainwash education facility!

    Report Post »  
    • RJJinGadsden
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:29am

      No, I disagree. I’m sure that we all chipped in against our wills to build a luxury replacement for this school, as well as many other schools in the area.

      Report Post » RJJinGadsden  
    • CaptPK_in_the_Gulf
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:05pm

      Not really. Photos like these are taken on the eastern side of town. This is one of the geographically lowest areas of New Orleans, actually below sea level, and without levies and flood gates it can flood from normal storms. A large portion of this area still has no electricity, water or sewage, but for the most part, no one is in any hurry to return to this area.

      The point is, most of the people who lived in that part of N.O. have moved on to continue their lives elsewhere. The east side has been abandoned by both the city and the people who used to live there. It’s the media who continue to enter the area to take pictures and write articles to prove various political points. Pictures like these will be possible until these structures rot and crumble to the ground.

      To most people in southern Louisiana, Katrina is mostly something to talk about over a cold beer at the local sports bar – a non-issue. Now if only the REST of the country would get over it!
      .

      Report Post »  
    • Alduin
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 12:53pm

      The public schools aren’t always propaganda machines my dads a conservative who reads this sight and is a public school teacher the curriculum has not become more liberal over the last 18 years. The real propaganda is from the media

      Report Post »  
  • randy
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:44am

    My God Liz, enough with these snapshots!
    I keep coming back to see if this guys techniques has gotten any better.
    Sadly, no……. My dog can take better pictures with his helmet cam.

    Report Post » randy  
  • BobtheMoron
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:39am

    I’m sick of New Orleans/Katrina crap. The Mississippi/Alabama Gulf Coast was destroyed almost completely and you never hear a ******* word about it. My daughter lost everything In Mobile. New Orleans got the enema that was needed and deserved but tens of thousands of other people outside of N.O. lost everything. So Blaze no more poor, poor New Orleans stories,

    Report Post » BobtheMoron  
    • GulfCoastConservative
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:14am

      Thank you, Bob. As a Biloxi, MS resident I get tired of it, too. Biloxi, like Mobile, has very few remnants of Katrina because everyone has worked hard for a comeback. New Orleans is still a mess. I don’t see the draw at all!

      Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on August 18, 2012 at 11:28am

      Agree … and any place that had hurricane damage BEFORE Katrina was forgotten also … and they rebuilt for themselves. btw .. this guy wants to see destruction .. GO TO DETROIT .. you can see what decades of “Progessives can do to a once thriving city. OR Flint or many other places in Michigan POST GRANHOLM.

      Report Post »  
  • NotOptional
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 10:25am

    Dude, your 15 minutes has expired. Please turn in your point and shoot.

    Report Post »  
  • Tri-ox
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:49am

    Okay, BLAZE, I think we’ve seen enough of this N.O. series.

    Report Post » Tri-ox  
  • blanco5
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:48am

    Are all of these images that have been shown on The Blaze to get us ready for what America will become if prez islama gets indefinite power?

    Report Post »  
  • mastice
    Posted on August 18, 2012 at 9:42pm

    Considering that a large portion (possibly the majority) of children coming out of 12th grade aren‘t ready for the ’real world’, let alone higher education, in terms of knowledge… that’s a perfect answer! << sarcasm

    While I think our education system is in shambles and control needs to be returned to the state/local level (ie: abolish the department of education), making 7-12 grade 'optional' isn't a step forward in the right direction, it's 10 steps backwards.

    Oh and you know what? I am not usually touchy about race related posts – but 'trash' transcends all races, not just blacks. That is absolute ignorance on your part to imply such.

    Report Post » mastice  
  • Wringeaux
    Posted on August 19, 2012 at 9:57am

    Here are a couple of websites that tell the truth about black america.
    http://www.dailykenn.com/
    http://stuffblackpeopledontlike.blogspot.com/

    Report Post » Wringeaux  
  • Dudemau
    Posted on August 19, 2012 at 12:54pm

    If there is a black problem in schools it’s cause it was created by white liberals, and taken advantage of by black progressives like sharpton and jackson, Ignoring the liberal way of doing things is the answer, not focusing on color. What a stupid post.

    Report Post »  
  • Michael Harris
    Posted on August 20, 2012 at 8:11am

    BOBAZ, all the racist I know are just as stupid as you are dumb. Do you have a solution for fixing your own stupidity?

    Report Post »  
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