After the Wall

November 1, 2009 3:12 PM

After the Wall: Traces of the Soviet Empire
posted by vronsky (12 comments total)

Cool pictures. It's history of another time, literally fading, peeling, and turning to dust before your eyes.
posted by Atreides at 4:45 PM on November 1

I live not too far from the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, Illinois. The city is far from abandoned, and base structures are largely intact; but the place is still pretty much the picture of desuetude.
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 4:45 PM on November 1 [3 favorites]

Wow, these photos are excellent. Love 'em. Thanks, vronsky.
posted by flapjax at midnite at 5:51 PM on November 1

Really great photos - I didn't realize the Soviets had such a heavy military presence in Mongolia. Thanks for this post.
posted by pravit at 7:07 PM on November 1

Another amazing post, vronsky. Just breathtaking all the "WOW" factor stuff in those photos.
posted by humannaire at 7:11 PM on November 1

I didn't realize the Soviets had such a heavy military presence in Mongolia.

I wonder how many people in the world look at Flint or Detroit and say "That's in the U.S.? Really?"
posted by mhoye at 7:48 PM on November 1 [1 favorite]

Built in in 1956 as a ground station to track Sputnik, the first manned satellite...

Well I don't remember that bit in the history textbooks...
posted by clorox at 9:48 PM on November 1 [1 favorite]

These photos are so eerie. Reminds me of the unrestored buildings on Ellis Island, and the abandoned base housing in what was Ft. Ord (in Monterey, CA).
posted by shinyshiny at 10:11 PM on November 1 [1 favorite]

This is haunting . . .

Beautiful images, great post, thank you.
posted by protorp at 11:14 PM on November 1

I was struck by the amazing texture and color of many of the photographs.
posted by telstar at 12:27 AM on November 2

These are really great, as are the links to the Rantoul and Ft. Ord collections. I love Metafilter.
posted by IvoShandor at 3:53 AM on November 2

Awesome awesome awesome!

Thanks, vronksy.
posted by BobFrapples at 10:27 AM on November 2