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There are currently 17 reviews of Abandoned Washington State posted on amazon.com. All of them are 5-stars.
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Jan Brattain
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on April 29, 2025 Clear photos and succinct text This was a fascinating look into old and mostly forgotten places and things abandoned. I loved imagining the stories behind the stark and dusty empty houses. Who lived here and why did they leave all their possessions behind when they left? And the sad remnants of the train yards with the rusted steam engines and boxcars. Most frightening were the glimpses into the closed down nuclear power plants and the stories behind the incompetent building of them, narrowly averting disaster. I recommend this book to anyone interested in recent American history. The photographs are superb and clear. Not a lot of text but what there is tells the stories behind the pictures succinctly. |
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The Music Wizard
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on May 9, 2025 An awesome read. If you're looking for a good, all around book about Washington State history with pictures, buy this book. All of the pictures are well labeled and identified, and the layout is simple and easy to follow. I was particularly entranced by the pictures of the Hanford Nuclear site. I've read a lot about it, but never saw any decent pictures of it before. All in all, an excellent choice if you have an interest in history, or want to try to interest your kids in history. |
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Bluechip Lifestyle
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2023 Breathing Life into Abandoned Buildings Howard Frisk has accomplished an amazing task in documenting more than just simple pictures of past generations of abandoned hopes and dreams. His images cover the desolate farmhouses, the crumbling school buildings, the urban locations, the hospitals and mental institutions, and various industrial sites such as old power plants, forts, and railroad yards. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but with just a few dozen words of accompanying text, Frisk has unlocked a few thousand more words emerging from the assortment of images of each abandonment as he has ventured into the interior of the images to give viewers glimpses of the interiors of those who abandoned them, such as the image of the broken and abandoned doll “probably untouched for decades” while still dozing in the initial scene of a house at an undisclosed location. The image can only stir up the presence of our own childhood memories that we have neglected and abandoned as well. As one fourth generation farmer “owner” is quoted, “It can be emotionally hard to burn those houses down. They are often part of a family’s history. Our family always farmed around it, even though it was a hassle, because it meant something to us.” As we view the images, we also become extended owners in a sense. The fact that ”the Washtucna School Bus, famous because it has its own Facebook hashtag, #thatNWbus” makes it more than just a relic on the side of the road, and we wonder where the children are now who rode in and/or decorated that bus. The old bedsprings and dusty wheelchair in the abandoned St Ignatius Hospital might evoke some thoughts by themselves, but Frisk’s details about the first ten patients and the circumstances of the first death (resulting from a railroad accident) enhance the images of the empty rooms as well as the caption that “Visitors to St. Ignatius often bring their own devices for picking up paranormal sounds. During a recent visit, ‘Am I dead?’, ‘Run!’, and ‘Get out!’ were all heard. Others reported seeing objects move on their own,” certainly strikes a nerve with any viewers. These details stood out to me. I wonder what different aspects will resonate with other viewers. |
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G. M. Hoerler
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on October 10, 2023 Fascinating glimpse of the past This book nicely illustrates Washington State's past through photos and prose about our often abandoned, crumbling past. A must have for anyone who is interested in Washington State history. |
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Cameron T Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on November 4, 2023 A Surreal Dive Back in Time I'm fascinated by history and physical artifacts that bring history to life. This book offers vivid photographs of many sites across Washington that give the reader concrete images of years ago, and an eerie account of the toll that time takes. Bravo on a beautiful book! |
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RK
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on December 11, 2023 So fun! Every photo is well done! Can’t put it down, great book! |
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Jay
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on October 30, 2023 Fascinating This book is very fascinating to read. I've been to a few of these locations and can't wait to explore more in person Howard did a great job creating this book. |
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Kimberly
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2023 Honoring the lives before us I was very moved by this book of photographs. For someone to notice a house, a truck, a factory, or whatever, and then to respect what happened there enough to document and share the stories with those who are alive now, does a great service to history. My personal favorites are the photos of the old farms, many of them left in a state that suggests their owners may have meant to return. The sorrowful stories about the mental institution, the railroad avalanche, as well as sharing the history of what occurred and when, all over Washington state. I've lived on the east coast most of my life. Although I have traveled far and wide, I've never been to Washington. But Howard Frisk's book compels me to visit Washington and see many of these sites myself. Thank you Howard for immersing us in so much forgotten history and the beauty and feeling that abandoned places hold. |
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Kwansoo
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 11, 2023 Interesting WA history! "Abandoned Washington State: From Old Barns to Atom Bombs" is a truly remarkable journey through the forgotten landscapes and history of our state. This photobook is an absolute treasure, and its title alone promises an intriguing exploration of Washington's diverse past. The book's strength lies in its breathtaking visuals. Instead of overwhelming you with long historical narratives, it lets the captivating images take center stage. With each page turn, you'll encounter a new and awe-inspiring photograph that skillfully captures the haunting beauty and hidden stories of abandoned structures. The photographer's keen eye for detail and composition brings out the textures and tales etched into the walls, floors, and forgotten corners of these places. Although I initially craved more historical context, I soon found that the minimalist approach allowed me to engage my own imagination and curiosity. "Abandoned Washington State" is not just a photobook; it's a testament to the emotive power of imagery, inviting anyone to appreciate photography and local history. Undoubtedly, it deserves every bit of its five-star rating. |
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Brendan
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 24, 2023 Another great work of Howard Frisk I am amazed how Howard spends his time taking photos, researching about the places he captures, and then creating gifts for us. He puts everything together seems like so effortlessly… I enjoyed learning about each place in this book. Looking forward to seeing more of Howard’s wonderful photos of Washington state. |
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Ana
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 27, 2023 Perfectly captured bit of history Beautiful photos and entertaining captions and descriptions! |
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Mark
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 21, 2023 Wow...a fascinating look into the history of Washington St. Get this book!! I have been following Howard Frisks work over the years and I am in awe over the quality of his research and the photography that helps tell the story so well. This book should be in every school Library and in the homes of those who love the State of Washington State and its history. Very well done!! |
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Joy
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 20, 2023 Fascinating The photos are evocative and tell a story in themselves as they are each obviously thoughtfully captured. I had no idea Washington state had such serious abandonment issues. It’s a cool and unique book. |
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Patricia
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 10, 2023 Past Lives of Abandoned Places I appreciate the research that the author has done extensively on the many abandoned sites and buildings he has photographed. I have a personal interest in the abandoned abodes of rural Eastern Washington. My own great grandparents were homesteaders on the Canadian prairies. Howard's photos remind us all of our pioneers great challenges of their times and makes us dream what that was like. |
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Janelle
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 7, 2023 A book that takes you places. I've lived in Washington state my whole life and didn't know about some of these places. These stories and captivating photos really bring a person to the location. Howard has done an amazing job with these places and photos. Having locals tell their story gives a unique and inside perspective that gives a more "real" feel to these places. |
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Barbarilla
5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2023 Eerie beautiful abandon places I recently read a fantastic book about abandoned places in Washington State, entitled “Abandoned Washington State: From Old Barns to Atom Bombs”, by author Howard Frisk. This photographic journey takes readers on a visually engaging tour of ghost towns, abandoned schools, and once-grand military area all throughout Washington. The photographs were stunning- you can almost feel the history of each location just by looking at the photos! I especially loved the detailed captions that provided the backstory of each location. From 1905 schoolhouses to crumbling farm houses, this book really brings life to these forgotten spaces. The author did a great job of showcasing a wide variety of places across the state. I was surprised to learn that there are so many different types of abandoned spots in Washington- including a nuclear reactor, a graveyard of train cars, old mills, and forgotten military missile complex. I found it particularly interesting to learn about the various origins and stories behind these places as the book went on. Overall, I found this book to be an interesting and informative way to explore the history and culture of Washington State. I enjoyed learning about all the different abandoned places and visiting each place through the breathtaking photographs. If you are looking for an informative and visually captivating way to explore the forgotten parts of Washington, then this book is the perfect fit for you. |
