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Whether the structure is a large factory or a single family's homestead, deserted places leave clues to the time shared between the people who once occupied a space and the buildings themselves. These spots are scattered throughout Illinois, both in rural and city settings, and as seen through a camera lens, can clearly illustrate times of industrialization, family histories, and significant historical milestones. The first volume of Abandoned Illinois: Secrets Behind the Spaces documents stories from the past found in locations from Chicago and its surrounding areas to the near the shoreline of the Mississippi River and places found in between, including Joliet Prison, Goodman Manufacturing, and a completely vacant army depot, among others. Often overlooked, these abandoned places offer us important and interesting information about our pasts, both as individuals and as a society.