Abandoned Staten Island
Bayley Seton Hospital

Back in Staten Island? Well, my list of places to see and things to eat grew quickly. Very, very quickly. With a full day of exploration, it’d take three different posts to house the highlights. Starting with the abandoned parts of the active Bayley Seton Hospital in Stapleton. The campus was constructed on the grounds of Staten Island’s first hospital. Established in 1831, The Seaman’s Retreat has had an interesting past, including attacks by bigoted mobs and arson. You can read Wiki’s plagiarism if you so desire. It is more detailed than my plagiarism. But I went in and took pictures. And here are some of my favorite shots.

This is the structure to your immediate left when you walk towards the hospital’s main entrance. It is pretty close to the sidewalk and its holy windows allow light to pour through its entirety, create dramatic contrasts and illumination of textures, my favorite things in urbex images. But also, these things made it seem relatively safe to enter, though we did not attempt to go to the second floor. I mean, c’mon. The door is wide and inviting.

Beautiful decay

Let there be light

Exit does not Exist

Farther into the campus, a fenced off structure right next to an active building. Again, in an exquisite state of decay.

No way in.

A large building faces the water. I have a feeling this won’t be here for long. The land in front of it was a construction zone, cleared for a new disgusting apartment building I bet. Or maybe a large place people can buy useless crap.

The only deterring signs just warned of cameras in use. Nothing that said “No.”

Sailors used to sit out here.

More easy exploration, in the crevices and cracks

It’s worth a mention that the active hospital, on the far right, is stunning Art Deco style.

Wall skin is peeling. Wait, what?

I would like this door.

So we went back in to the first building at the end, feeling more brazen.

And inside, my most favorite shots of the light.

These are some spectacular ceilings.

Money shot!

I know I say this often, but I will be back. I was so pleased with the shots I was able to get at this quick visit, especially since I had never even seen the site before. Inevitable redevelopment of waterfronts in New York City lights a bit of fire under my butt. And perhaps I enjoy exploring Staten Island so much because this trend is with more obstacle in the borough. There are still places to get lost. Even now.