49 Abandoned Landmarks That Are More Beautiful Than Ever

37. Kennecott Mines, Alaska, USA: Copper Dreams in Icy Wilderness

Deep within Alaska’s vast Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the striking red buildings of the Kennecott Mines cling dramatically to the mountainside. This National Historic Landmark was a bustling copper mining camp in the early 20th century, complete with a massive mill and company town. Abandoned in 1938 when the high-grade ore depleted, its impressive wooden structures are remarkably preserved by the cold, dry air, yet slowly weathering against a backdrop of glaciers and towering peaks – a testament to human ambition in a raw, unforgiving wilderness.