THE ARCHITECTURE WHICH DEFINES OUR LANDSCAPE IS A TANGIBLE PART OF OUR COLLECTIVE HISTORY. WHEN HISTORIC STRUCTURES ARE DEMOLISHED, A PART OF OURSELVES IS RELEGATED TO MEMORY AND CONDEMNED TO BE FORGOTTEN. IN THE REDISCOVERY OF OUR ABANDONED, OFF-LIMITS, OR OTHERWISE HIDDEN ENVIRONMENTS, I DOCUMENT THEIR EXISTENCE AS WELL AS OUR OWN THROUGH THE PHOTOGRAPHY AND THE ADVENTURES PRESENTED HERE
The Continental Life Building had been abandoned for years, but it has been renovated and is now nearly finished. Only part of the first floor remains to be remodeled for some commercial space. It's a nice building and the view from the roof is the only of its kind in the area as it's easily the tallest building in this part of town.
When I was almost done, the cleaning crew spotted me coming back into the topmost suite, from the roof. As I headed for the elevators, the guy asked me if I was "looking for someone". I don't know who he thought I could have been looking for, on the roof, but I'm sure we could have had an interesting conversation out there, high above the traffic.
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
This is the topmost suite, with roof access at either end. The adjacent suite used to belong to the Falstaff Brewing Company, but it is now occupied by someone else.
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
Continental Life Insurance Building STL by sublunar
This blog is dedicated to the pursuit of adventure and features urban exploration in Saint Louis, Missouri and beyond.
1. With the exception of historical photos, all of the photographs here are copyrighted and not to be used for any purpose without my consent. The historical imagery is courtesy of the Historical Society or as otherwise noted.
2. "Don't try this at home." I absolutely will not be held responsible for anyone else's stupidity. I do not recommend anyone try visiting any of these locations. Sometimes I am granted access to the things you see here and attempting to follow in my footsteps may get you arrested, hurt or killed.
3. I do not condone or tolerate: vandalism, theft, littering or any other disrespectful activity in any of these locations. I have the utmost respect for the history of these locations and for the history of my city, Saint Louis. "Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints."
4. Do not ask me for (or post) specific location information. If identifying information is not provided in the post, there's usually a good reason for that. Any information will be provided either at the time of posting, or updated years later, at my discretion.
5. Any reference to "I/me, we/us" anywhere on this blog is probably just a metaphor. Metaphors are oten employed to simplify complex technical details when storytelling. As such, they can never be considered as admission, nor proof, of guilt; They do not provide sufficient evidence as to who (or what) actually took any of the photos shown here. I/we may or may not actually exist.
