American photojournalist Seph Lawless documented the town of Picher, Oklahoma, once America's leading producer of zinc and lead.
American photojournalist Seph Lawless documented the town of Picher, Oklahoma, once America's leading producer of zinc and lead.
Seph Lawless
The town produced most of the metal used in ammunition by the US during World War I and II.
The town produced most of the metal used in ammunition by the US during World War I and II.
Seph Lawless
When the mines began to run dry in the 1960s, most companies packed up and left, leaving the town largely abandoned.
When the mines began to run dry in the 1960s, most companies packed up and left, leaving the town largely abandoned.
Seph Lawless
The mining also left the town with extremely high levels of lead poisoning among residents, leading the Environmental Protection Agency to dub the area the most contaminated place in America.
The mining also left the town with extremely high levels of lead poisoning among residents, leading the Environmental Protection Agency to dub the area the most contaminated place in America.
Seph Lawless
Seph Lawless has visited Picher several times, even though the town is technically closed off.
Seph Lawless has visited Picher several times, even though the town is technically closed off.
Seph Lawless
Lawless hopes that his work will bring wider attention to the devastation.
Lawless hopes that his work will bring wider attention to the devastation.
Seph Lawless
Extensive mining has made some of the ground unstable and prone to collapse.
Extensive mining has made some of the ground unstable and prone to collapse.
Seph Lawless
The photos reveal a desolate town, made up of a handful of dilapidated buildings that line a road of cracked asphalt.
The photos reveal a desolate town, made up of a handful of dilapidated buildings that line a road of cracked asphalt.
Seph Lawless