Every abandoned building has a story about how it got that way, whether it's an urban legend or the truth.
Rotting, crumbling, or completely invaded by nature, abandoned buildings can be as creepy as they are fascinating.
From ancient ruins uncovered underneath ash to mental hospitals that have been left to rot, we've rounded up 50 abandoned buildings around the world and the history behind them.
SEE ALSO: The 13 coolest — and creepiest — ghost towns around the world
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The Pontiac Silverdome, Michigan
The Pontiac Silverdome was once home to major events like the Super Bowl and concerts by The Rolling Stones, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. However, since the Detroit Lions left back in 2002 it has been empty and abandoned. It is now in the process of being demolished.
Maunsell Sea & Air Forts, Thames and Mersey estuaries, United Kingdom
During World War II, the Maunsell Army Sea & Air Forts were built to defend England against German forces.
A group of forts raised above the water on stilts made up the complex, designed by Guy Maunsell, a British civil engineer.
The forts officially closed in the 1950s, but the structures that remain can occasionally be seen from land at East Beach Park in Southend-on-Sea.
Haludovo Palace Hotel, Krk, Croatia
This mid-century-style hotel opened in 1971, drawing visitors to the small Croatian island of Krk.
A year later, the founder of Penthouse Magazine, Bob Guccione, invested $45 million in the property and expanded it, turning it into the lavish Penthouse Adriatic Club Casino.
Once the Yugoslav Wars began in the early 1990s, Krk was no longer a popular travel destination, and the hotel was eventually abandoned.
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