Photo: "Attic, St. Joseph's Church"

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St. Joseph's Church in San Francisco, California was reconstructed in 1913 after experiencing significant damage from the 1906 quake. This attic in the West steeple has the original stained glass from construction. 

Being in this small space was pretty remarkable. The stained glass windows were shining beautifully in the sunlight, casting yellow hues around the room. 

Photo: "Industrial Happiness"

You know that feeling when everything else in life fades away, you can't stop smiling, you feel like you're floating and you never want that moment to end...that's how I feel exploring and photographing architecture and history and the forgotten past. 

I vividly remember this day, back in 2009, inside Building 231 at the former Hunter's Point Naval Shipyard in San Francisco. It had just rained and the whole lower level was covered in a few inches of water and the reflections were extraordinary.

I think it's about time to get out and do some exploring again soon...

Photo: "Therapy Tubs"

I'm heading out of town for the holidays today, but I experienced a burst of photographic inspiration and dug into the albums from my May 2013 trip to the South this morning.

Here's a shot from inside the Polk building at the former West Tennessee Hospital, designed for psychopathic use and constructed in 1932 to aid in overcrowding. These tubs were part of a hydrotherapy program for patients, which involved covering the tubs with heavy fabric (you can see the securing points on the side of the tubs) to trap steam, only allowing the person's head to be outside the tub. 

(Print - http://smu.gs/1jtXi1R)

Photo: Corridor, Central State Hospital

Central State Hospital, Georgia

Starting today through December 19, I will be offering 20% off prints for the holidays!

Visit my website (www.amyheiden.com) and click "Buy print" in the image description.

(Print - http://smu.gs/19mIxb4 )

Photo: "Employee Sink"

I haven't had much time to focus on posting images over the last few weeks, but hopefully that will change soon. In the meantime, I've been sorting through my archives and have stumbled upon some new images I hope to post over the next few weeks. 

Here's an image, taken in 2010, of a sink inside an employee dormitory, known as Norwalk Hall, at a former Connecticut Asylum. 

(Print - http://smu.gs/IPnkvL )

Photo: "Skylight in Lieu of Decay"

Greystone Park Psychiatric, in Morris Plains, New Jersey was constructed in 1877, following the Kirkbride plan, to relieve overcrowding at nearby Trenton State Hospital and was known as the largest contiguous foundation in the United States, from it's opening until the Pentagon was built in 1943. 

(Print: http://smu.gs/1gA9qti )

Photo: "Cupola"

This cupola sits atop the Administration Section of the Babcock Building, completed in 1885, at the former South Carolina Lunatic Asylum in Columbia. The section of the building contained patient dining areas, operating rooms and housing for nurses and doctor's. 

(Print - http://smu.gs/IhdAud )