Before & After, City Methodist of Gary, Indiana

This video talks about the history of City Methodist Church. Vintage photographs are compared to current urban exploration footage to give drastic before & after views. 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗺𝗽𝘀: 00:00 Intro 02:20 Sanctuary 04:35 Theater (Seaman Hall) 06:55 Meeting Hall 07:30 Gymnasium 08:10 Rooftop 09:00 School Designed by Chicago architectural firm Lowe & Bollenbacher, City Methodist was built over the course of 21 months, from 1925-1926. It's been abandoned since 1975. A huge fire destroyed the roof in 1997. The 1000-seat theater was called Seaman Hall, named for the man who had the entire complex built, Dr. William Seaman. Dr. Seaman was a progressive minister. Black people weren't allowed to worship in white churches in the 1920's, but other parts of City Methodist were used for social gatherings, like a community center, and Dr. Seaman welcomed black and immigrant communities. However, the white middle-class folk of Gary didn't take kindly to such radical ideas like all races living & worshipping together in peace and harmony. So William Seaman was kicked out of the church he built, forcibly transferred to another ministry in Ohio. I read a blog post written by another urban explorer, speaking of how City Methodist was used as a community meeting place in the 50 years it was occupied, and how now, having been abandoned for another 50 years, it is still being used for social gathering. Urban explorers from all over the world come to see the City Methodist Church of Gary, Indiana. While we were there, we met a couple from Germany. They were on a grand urbex holiday! We also met others from Indiana and surrounding states, some of whom I am still in touch with to this day. The city of Gary now has plans to demolish the 100-year-old structure that has been featured in Hollywood movies as well as hipster wedding photos. I'm very glad I got to see it when I did, and with good friends. #abandonedplaces #indianahistory #urbanexploration Disclaimer: Pinetop Jackson does not break into buildings. Every location we document is open with no sings warning against trespassing present at the time of visit. We do not vandalize. While we do respect the graffiti and street art encountered, we do not practice this art. Our goal and our intent is to document these historically significant locations for posterity, and we enter them with respect. We take nothing but photos (and video!) and leave nothing but footprints.