ABANDONMENT

The Ephemeral Nature of Human Endeavors

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THE UBIQUITOUS BEDSPRINGS

The Ever-Present Reminder of Previous Occupation

May 11, 2003

Ever since I was a child first exploring old mine sites and abandoned buildings, I have noticed the ubiquitous presence of rusty bedsprings. They are everywhere. It seems that any time people lived at a particular location, even for a short time, they left their beds behind when they moved away. Often, time and the elements destroy just about everything at a site, but the bedsprings survive, rusty but intact. Frequently I explore a ghost town or mining camp and find that the buildings are mostly gone; typically only foundations and piles of stone remain. But the bedsprings are always there, and they are in far better condition than the buildings. Repeated harsh winters, fires, and vandalism may wipe out everything else, but the bedsprings remain, rusty and sometimes mangled, but still completely recognizable.

This photo gallery is dedicated to this great survivor from abandoned sites everywhere.

This is a set of bedsprings located near the site of a building in a mining camp.
The building is almost gone, but the springs remain.
Simpson Mountains, western Utah - Photo taken on May 11, 2003


These bedsprings rust away in a mining camp's small garbage dump.
Simpson Mountains, western Utah - Photo taken on May 11, 2003



Four sets of springs, including one still inside its fabric, in a nice abandoned mining camp
Elko County, Nevada - Photos taken on September 27, 2003
Added to this site on February 1, 2004


This set of springs sits at a crossroads in Gilmore, Idaho.
Photo taken on September 2, 2007. Added to this site on January 7, 2008.

More photos will be added from time to time as I visit more sites.
I am certain that most of these places will be littered with bedsprings.



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