Deception Island, Antarctica

A popular tourist destination in Antarctica’s South Shetland Islands, Deception Island is famous for its abandoned whaling station and abandoned whaling fleet. In 1931 and 1969, volcanic eruptions took out the whaling station multiple times, leaving behind beached boats and rusting boilers.. With Lindblad Expeditions, you can explore the deserted site for yourself – if you’re lucky, you might even spot some chinstrap penguins and soak in a natural hot tub.

Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia

Eastern State Penitentiary was built in 1829 and revolutionized solitary confinement with its castle-like appearance. Guards covered the heads of prisoners when they left their cells with hoods so they couldn’t see or be seen by the guards. Overcrowding forced the prison in 1913 to abandon its solitary system, though there were no less severe punishments (one was to chain an inmate’s tongue to his wrists).. In 1994, the site opened its doors to curious visitors, and now it welcomes thousands of visitors every year to visit both its museum and to take a ghost tour.