Gary, Indiana has seen both the highs and the lows of life throughout the city's history. The city was built in 1906 around the United States Steel Corporation’s Gary Works. The Steel Strike of 1919 brewed civil unrest in the city, which flared up into a full-fledged riot between the striking steel workers and strikebreakers that forced Governor James P. Goodrich to declare martial law. So why was Gary, Indiana abandoned? Well, the answer is... lots of reasons.

Despite the early conflicts, the steel industry provided ample job opportunities and Gary’s population boomed...then busted. The fortunes and failures of the city are reflective of the steel industry; the rapid expansion of the early years was bolstered by the steel needs during WWII, but the declining demand and growth of international competition dragged Gary into a downward spiral.

In 2013, the Gary Department of Redevelopment reported that a whopping one-third of homes within city limits were empty or abandoned. Unlike other abandoned towns in the USA, Gary is still alive with a population of over 80,000 - a "modern ghost town" unlike any other.

Editor's note: Some of the places listed below have since been demolished; this article is merely a snapshot of a few abandoned buildings in Gary's history.

1. The Palace Theater

The Palace was one of the finest buildings in the city and served as a grand venue and focal point of the community.

When Gary Works steel plant began massive layoffs, the dwindling population no longer had use for such an elaborate space. The Palace Theater was shut down in 1972.

2. The Abandoned Union Station

This station was built in 1910 to serve several of the major railway lines. The old Gary Union Station has seen decades of destructive weathering.

3. City Methodist Church

From the inside, you would think you were standing in an epic European cathedral, and even as nature slowly reclaims the structure, which was abandoned in 1975, the place still feels somewhat sacred.

This enormous gothic revival church was built in the 1920s and held a congregation of nearly 3,000 people.

The empty building survived surprisingly safe from vandals and many of the original stained glass windows remain untouched; however, an increasing number of trespassers has led the city to securely gate and patrol the property.

The City of Gary does offer permits for photographers to poke around inside, and their pictures are both sad and stunning.

4. The Abandoned US Post Office

This downtown Post Office designed by architect Howard Lovewell Cheney and built in 1936 as a part of the New Deal Program.

The original floors were made of wood bricks, which have become warped over time from water damage.

The Post Office closed in the mid-1970s. The decay in parts of the building has allowed nature to begin taking back the space.

The collapsed ceiling has allowed natural growth to take over and the interior floors are now green with moss.

5. Gary Public Schools Memorial Auditorium

Built in 1927, the Memorial Auditorium was large enough to seat 5,000 people.

Its red brick walls, terra cotta floor, and limestone features are still standing, though in disrepair.

The Gary Public Schools Memorial Auditorium is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

The tumultuous history was devastating for many Gary, Indiana residents and the deserted buildings left behind are an inescapable reminder of the city’s former glory. These slowly decaying structures provide a melancholy snapshot of history, but we also see something hauntingly beautiful in their breakdown.

Want to see what Gary looked like in its heyday during the 1950s? Check out this fascinating archival footage:

Have you explored any of these abandoned places in Indiana? Do you know of other eerie, Gary Indiana abandoned spots we should check out? Tell us about them in the comments - we love hearing from you!

If you find you just can't get enough of the spooky and often mysterious abandoned places in Indiana, you might want to check out some of the other notable abandoned ruins in Indiana while you're at it. You wouldn't believe how many amazing places are out there just waiting to be discovered.