Photo: Babcock Corridor

In 1828, the South Carolina Lunatic Asylum admitted its first patient, but the Babcock Building (shown here) wasn't constructed until almost thirty years later. It was built in the Italian Renaissance Revival style and completed in 1885. At the time, it was only the third asylum constructed in the United States, but it was not the first evidence of treatment for the mentally ill in the state.  

In the late 1600's, the Lord Proprietors of the Carolinas agreed that the mentally ill should be cared for by the local government. At that time, many had been jailed, abused, or chained down. Seventy years later, an asylum was established in Charleston by the Fellowship, but it took another fifty years for the state government to fund the construction of the asylum.  

Photo: "Another Day in Solitude"

One this particular day, we had shot a cloudless sunrise at Zabriskie Point and feared we'd have the same cloudless skies for sunset out at The Racetrack, but we decided to go anyway. Thankfully, the evening turned out better than expected. 

By sunset, we were the only people on the playa and though it was chilly, there was virtually no wind. A few small clouds moved in over the mountains as the sun went down and lit up in hues of pink and lavender. Taking our chances definitely paid off. 

Photo: "Operating Room"

Second floor operating room in the hospital building at the 1930's era U.S. Marine Hospital in Tennessee.

Photo: "The Cracks Begin To Show"

Big Sur, California. Jan 2012. 

Photo: "Place of Peace"

I grew up in Southern California and until I turned 21 and moved to San Francisco, I never lived more than a mile from the beach, where I spent many nights and weekends. Sometimes I was with friends, sometimes I'd go for a swim on a hot night, sometimes I read a book, and sometimes I'd sit and watching the waves, reflecting about something going on in my life.

The beach has always been my place of peace.

Photo: "Sunset, Sutro Baths 12/29"

Since my last exploring trip to the South in October, I haven't shot many abandoned locations, which means that I'm running low on new urban decay images to post. Interestingly enough, I have a dozen or so landscape images fighting for time on G+.

Photo: "Nurses Station 338"

Rear, upper floor nurses station of the U.S. Marine Hospital in Tennessee, constructed in the 1930's.

Photo: "U.S. Marine Hospital Exterior"

The Marine hospital in Tennessee was constructed in the late 1800's, but the original building was torn down and replaced by a newer building, shown here, in 1937. 

Photo: "Beaming, Just Beaming"

Sun beams break through the redwoods at the Henry Cowell State Park near Santa Cruz, California.

In a few hours I'm hoping on a plane to visit family. Have a great week and enjoy whichever holiday you celebrate!

Photo: "Cleaning"

Dental station at the former U.S. Marine Hospital in Tennessee.

The U.S. Marine Hospital's main building was constructed in the 1930's, replacing the fourty-year old original building. 

Photo: "Fix You"

Second floor room at the U.S. Marine Hospital in Tennessee.

I am slowly running out of hospital and asylum images to post and the next big trip isn't until Spring. It's starting to get to me. I need a fix. 

Photo: "Golden Staircase"

Staircase in the Safe Cabinet Company admininstration building in Ohio, constructed in 1905.

Photo: "Nurses' Spiral"

The nurses' quarters at the U.S. Marine Hospital in Tennessee were constructed in the late 1800's, with the original hospital, and moved 100 feet in the 1930's when the new hospital building was constructed. 

Photo: "Secluded"

Patient rooms at dawn, South Carolina Lunatic Asylum. 

Photo: "Personnel Entrance"

Personnel entrance to the Nuclear Reactor Buidling at the Satsop Nuclear Power Plant.

Construction on the Satsop Nuclear Plant began in 1977, but was halted five years later due to budget issues. The site was maintained as though construction would resume, but in 1993, the project was cancelled. The plant now sits 76% completed, but has been repurposed by a number of businesses, including NASA.