Urban exploration is not new. Some trace it back to the 18th century, when explorers would break into the Paris Catacombs. In recent years, the internet has helped urban exploration, or “urbex,” become a global phenomenon.
According to a church official, a recent spate of break-ins in Northeast has put a local focus on urban exploration.
In Minneapolis, the exploration of abandoned structures by young people has been in the news a great deal recently. An 18-year-old Forest Lake youth survived a fall at an abandoned grain elevator in South Minneapolis on Aug. 3 and was in critical condition. Minneapolis Police have said the number of urban exploration incidents reported was 80 last year and has risen to over 100 this year so far. More than 15 arrests have been made.
Urban explorers are responsible for much of the physical deterioration at the former Twin City Gardens nursing home at 2309 Hayes St. NE, where they have repeated vandalized the building and displayed videos of their work on social media.
The west face of Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1621 University Ave. NE. Urban explorers broke into the church causing thousands of dollars worth of damage to the building. The church is not interested in convicting the perpetrators, but rather warns them that this is a felony that could end up on their record. (Holy Cross Church website)
There have been at least nine break-in attempts at Holy Cross Catholic Church, 1621 University Ave. NE, in just the last month.
The Holy Cross incidents are actually outliers in the urban exploration trend, since the church, while old and historic, is not abandoned or derelict.
Rev. Spencer Howe, pastor at Holy Cross, said the publicity generated by the break-ins has apparently caused the “explorers” to cease trying to enter the church at this point.
“But I don’t think it’s done. I don’t think the issue is resolved,” Howe said. “It’s a broken world and there are broken people. But there’s always hope.”
Fr. Howe said no vandalism was done in the church, and there was no graffiti and no theft. Most of the damage, which totaled thousands of dollars, was done to the doors and windows in the Holy Cross campus on University Avenue.
After looking at the security video footage of the break-ins, Howe said he can see that the perpetrators were young adults. He said he would like to caution those over 18 that the damage they did could result in a felony conviction, which would always be on their record.
But Howe is not interested in convictions or revenge. “I see these young people as somewhat reckless, they’re seeking something, they’re a little rebellious. Well, the church has a message for them that they might not expect. We’re in the business of helping sinners. The church is made up of sinners. We want to bring Jesus Christ and the gospel to them. There’s always room for redemption.”
Howe said he would like to talk to the explorers. “I have a friend who’s a pastor in northern Minnesota, and a young man did graffiti on the church building. Later, the man turned himself in and was helpful in cleaning up the damage.
“If these young people would like to talk to me, I’m sure we could find a creative way to make up for what they’ve done. I’m not here to convict them, I’m here to get them into heaven.”
The Urban Explorers Network, a worldwide community of these explorers, dates to 1999. Its creed is as follows: “Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.”
The “urbex” mainly explore what’s left of the Industrial Revolution. The internet has allowed explorers to share their findings with others in a globally connected community. They focus on “TOADS:” Temporary, Obsolete, Abandoned and Derelict Spaces.
Abandoned hospitals and asylums, industrial power plants and factories, grain elevators and underground structures are their primary targets.
A Minneapolis Police spokesman said that when an urban explorer gets into trouble, it puts rescue workers into peril also.