Industrial Slumming in the Rustbelt....a new type of heritage tourism?

[Waverley_Hills_Hiker]

I think Ive developed a new wrinkle on the "heritage tourism" trend.

I research smaller rustbelt manufacturing citys...like, say, Muncie, or Anderson, or Lima, or Toledo or South Bend or Akron...just some examples there....by reading up on them in old WPA guides from the 1930s & early 40s or historical society books, also do a bit of research in the local phone book (looking for churches w. certain names, groceries w. maybe a speciality in ethnic foods),

...and then plot out a trip to check out whats left.

I get a local street map and compare it with the directions on the WPA map, drive around town checking out the old factorys, blue collar neighborhoods, whats left of the downtown (usually there are some smallish1920s era high-rises), check out the old churches, maybe get check out the historical society museum if there is one, do a bit of shopping in an ethnic grocery, if any survive...

If the town is large enough and further away then a day-trip I will usually book a room in a downtown hotel, if they haveone.