22 Staggering Photos Of An Abandoned Slaughterhouse Hiding In Nebraska

This is a sight you don't get to see very often: an abandoned slaughterhouse. This Nebraska slaughterhouse, located in an undisclosed location "deep in the heart of the state", was photographed by the talented Jim Sullivan. Check out more of his work on Places That Were.

1. The huge building is every bit the industrial behemoth you would expect to find at a meat processing facility. The building is looking a bit run down; who knows how long it has been out of commission?

2. The abandoned slaughterhouse and meatpacking plant has a somewhat gruesome history, but it's weirdly beautiful in its state of abandonment.

3. Walking into the building is like walking back in time. The facility was no doubt an important part of the local economy when it was operational.

4. The animals were held in this huge space before being slaughtered and processed. Various debris is strewn about, but there are no signs of the animals that passed through here.

5. This narrow passage led from the holding area to the killing floor. It's not nice to think about, but it is rather interesting to see the equipment used in this industry.

6. Plenty of equipment and other various objects were simply left behind when the facility was closed decades ago. It lends an eerie aspect to the place, as though operations have simply paused and the workers will return tomorrow.

7. Having never worked in or visited an operating slaughterhouse makes it difficult to identify many of the objects left behind in this huge facility.

8. These sinks are easily identifiable. They operate with foot pedals rather than hand-turned faucets...for obvious reasons.

9. Leaving the slaughterhouse floor, a heavy door and stairs lead down to another level of the building. What could be behind this portal?

10. The stairs down look a bit ominous. We're not sure we would have had the courage to venture down there ourselves...

11. More machinery and heavy equipment occupy the lower level.

12. The ravages of time are evident in the water-damaged floors, the thick layers of dust, rust, and grime, and the occasional bit of nature that has found its way inside.

13. There are unmistakable reminders here of what the facility was designed for. This conveyor belt went from the slaughterhouse to a huge warehouse that was possibly used for cold storage.

14. You can guess what some of these objects were used for. Others are a little more obscure.

15. The administrative side of the slaughterhouse is still outfitted as though the workers have just stepped out for the day.

16. Chairs and desks still sit much as they did when the office workers were coming in every day to use them.

17. We can imagine the workers filing in to store their daily lunches in these refrigerators...

18. ...and changing into their work clothes in this locker room.

19. This time clock was once a daily stop for many workers. Now, it will never punch another time card.

20. Notices and memos can still be found hanging from the walls. Safety instructions are still visible as well.

21. This ancient computer is accompanied by training tapes. Was this where new employees learned their future trade?

22. Slaughterhouses are the types of places most people never want to see. But in this case, the facility is a fascinating look into the past.

The beef industry is vastly important to Nebraska's economy and, like it or not, with this industry comes slaughterhouses. Regardless of the inevitable "ick" factor that accompanies a facility like this, there is definitely something fascinating about this abandoned structure. These pictures give us a wonderful opportunity to learn about the history of a facility like this.

Want more abandoned places in your life? Take our ghost town road trip to see entire towns lost to time.