Silo City, Buffalo, NY

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Cargill Superior

The Erie Canal opened in 1825 allowing major shipments between the Great Lakes. This allowed the city of Buffalo, NY to play a large part in how grain was processed and distributed throughout the country. In the early 1900’s Buffalo would have 14 waterfront concrete grain elevators. And in 1924 be the world leader in grain volume handled.

One of the last working grain elevators in Buffalo still produces Cheerios. Down the street many of the other elevators closed in the 60’s and 70’s. I had the opportunity to photograph some of them including the American, Cargill, Marine A Elevator, Standard and Perot facilities in May of 2015.

Massive turn of the century structures. Floor after floor, room after room of abandoned industrial architecture and technology. No signs of life. Rodents and insects must have left some time ago, or I was lucky.