Sherman Cahal

About

Born near Ashland, Kentucky, I developed an early interest in the built and natural landscapes of Appalachia. My work has focused on documenting the region’s historic architecture, industrial sites, and cultural landscapes through historical research and project-based photography. Now based in Indiana, I continue to approach Appalachia as both a subject of study and a lived place, emphasizing accuracy, context, and long-term preservation.

The Websites

Abandoned tells the story of a forgotten America by documenting abandoned and historic sites through photographs, research, and field reporting. Launched in 1998 as Ohio Valley Abandoned, the project originally focused on northeastern Kentucky, southern Ohio, and western West Virginia, and has since grown into one of the largest and most comprehensive resources of its kind in the United States.

Bridges & Tunnels serves as a historical and photographic record of notable bridges, tunnels, and ferries in the United States and abroad, emphasizing engineering, context, and preservation.

American Byways is an exploration-focused website designed to help travelers discover lesser-known destinations, scenic routes, and distinctive waypoints, with an emphasis on natural wonders and overlooked places.

The Book

Abandoned Kentucky presents a visual and historical record of the Commonwealth’s overlooked places, offering a window into everyday life as it once was and inviting reflection on the people and industries that shaped it. The collection explores sites such as the Columbia Theatre in downtown Paducah, the shuttered Union Station depot in Henderson, the Old Crow bourbon distillery along Glenn’s Creek, the Parker Tobacco Company in Maysville, and a once-prominent farmhouse in McLean County, tracing stories from one end of Kentucky to the other. Through these photographs, Sherman Cahal, Adam Paris, and Michael Maes approach abandoned spaces not as symbols of decay, but as places of lasting beauty, memory, and historical significance.

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