As a kid, I loved going to the Surf Cincinnati Waterpark. That was, until the place closed. My father and I drove by one time, looking over the fence at the shuttered water slides and empty pools. I got curious and the place stuck with me, always in my ahead alongside a childhood fascination with abandoned places. At the age of 16, with a camera in hand and a developing passion for both photography and storytelling, I hopped the fence into the abandoned waterpark.

Often described as “the activity or pastime of exploring man-made structures, especially abandoned buildings and areas not generally open to the public,” urban exploration became my first true creative passion. The afternoon spent at Surf Cincinnati led to adventures all over the United States—from empty subway tunnels to shuttered airport concourses and even to the deck of a “ghost ship” that once ferried both Thomas Edison and Madonna.

In 2007, I started queencitydiscovery.com (QC/D), which sought to document my adventures of urban exploring within my hometown. QC/D evolved into the website you’re browsing now and my work grew to include so much more than just forgotten places. “Urbex” isn’t my central photographic pursuit anymore, but it still holds an influence over me—having shaped who I am and how I view the past, present, and future.

Below is a list of some favorite urban exploration stories from over the years according to both online views and personal preferences. A selection of photographic highlights follows, but you can also find a full list of urbex blog posts here.