American Wasteland
all images © Shannon Beelman
"American Wasteland is my inaugural photography venture, which has evolved significantly throughout my journeys along America's less-traveled routes. I am continually enthralled by the gradual decay of objects over time, the gentle yet resolute takeover of nature once human presence recedes, and the distinct decay variations influenced by diverse climates."
Once bustling with mills along the river, the Minneapolis Mill District still boasts the old steel supports along the Mississippi River in Downtown Minneapolis, MN. © Shannon Beelman 2012
Located in Minneapolis, MN, the Glenwood Mill was abandoned in the 1970s and still stands today. It has become a popular spot for photographers and urban explorers alike. © Shannon Beelman, 2012.
Located in Minneapolis, MN, the Glenwood Mill was abandoned in the 1970s and still stands today. It has become a popular spot for photographers and urban explorers alike. © Shannon Beelman, 2012.
Located in Minneapolis, MN, the Glenwood Mill was abandoned in the 1970s and still stands today. It has become a popular spot for photographers and urban explorers alike. © Shannon Beelman, 2012.
Located in Minneapolis, MN, the Glenwood Mill was abandoned in the 1970s and still stands today. It has become a popular spot for photographers and urban explorers alike. © Shannon Beelman, 2012.
An old building connected to a roadside stop that has been closed for many years located just outside of Wisconsin Dells, WI. I remember this place being open back in the 1970s. © Shannon Beelman 2014
The old chairlift motor house at the Skyline ski area in Adams Friendship, WI. Homes now line the back end of this property and I am sure before long it will be new homes as the area continues to grow. © Shannon Beelman 2014
Finding random cars, trailers, and yes boats is not uncommon in the desert. I stumbled along these in an industrial part of North Las Vegas, NV. ©2016 Shannon Beelman
Lost in the desert. ©2013 Shannon Beelman
The washes around Las Vegas start to fill after just a little rainfall in the desert, often clearing trash and other things discarded in the desert. © 2016 Shannon Beelman
Tin can sit sun faded next to an old mine camp in Shoshone, CA. It will take years before the sand covers these from view. ©2018 Shannon Beelman
An old beach chair sticks up from the hard land that was once Echo Bay in Lake Mead Nation Park. This area was once a recreational spot for locals and visitors alike, with lowering water levels the boat launch has been moved. © 2016 Shannon Beelman
The once busy boat slits at Echo Bay on Lake Mead now sit on the desert floor. When I returned in 2020 this area had been cleared of the old marina and docks. © 2016 Shannon Beelman
Looking down on the now dry Echo Bay from the once busy resort, you can see the on the rings left by the dropping water on the distant mountains. ©2016 Shannon Beelman
Once a popular resort on the Overton Arm of Lake Mead sitting forgotten and baking in the desert sun. ©Shannon Beelman 2016
Once underwater this tiedown now sits on dry land leading off to what was once a busy marina on Lake Mead in Nevada. ©Shannon Beelman 2016
Echo Bay Marina and store now sits empty and forgotten in the desert. ©Shannon Beelman 2016
Once part of lake Mead and Echo bay this maker sits on the desert sands. ©Shannon Beelman 2016
Desert lands at Lake Mead in Nevada. ©Shannon Beelman 2016
The boat ramp only leads to dry land these days, as lake Mead gets lower by the year. ©Shannon Beelman 2016
Once busy Echo Bay Marina now sits on the dry desert ground as Lake Mead changes the access points also change. ©Shannon Beelman 2016