Not all graveyards are for people—some are for things we’ve left behind. From shipwreck cemeteries where rusting vessels rest in peace, to airplane graveyards where decommissioned jets bake in the sun, these unusual burial grounds tell stories of forgotten eras. There are even phone booth graveyards and car junkyards, where technology and transportation relics wait out their final days. These 17 resting places for objects are a reminder that even the things we create eventually find a place to rest, adding a strange, haunting beauty to the end of their journey.
1. A graveyard of cars after the Chinese company that owned them went bankrupt.
In China, a vast car graveyard stretches across several acres, housing thousands of abandoned vehicles. This eerie sight resulted from a corporate bankruptcy, leaving rows upon rows of once-gleaming cars to rust in silence. The sheer scale of this automotive necropolis is staggering, offering a stark reminder of the volatile nature of business and the environmental consequences of mass production.
2. Old British red telephone boxes left in Merstham, Surrey.
In Merstham, Surrey, a collection of around 70 iconic British red telephone boxes awaits restoration. This compact graveyard, known as the largest of its kind in the UK, preserves a slice of British telecommunications history. The vibrant red paint, though faded, still evokes a sense of classic British charm. This unique site offers vintage enthusiasts and photographers a glimpse into the evolving nature of public communication infrastructure.
3. Jet planes abandoned in a forest graveyard.
Hidden within a dense forest, a haunting jet graveyard houses hundreds of decommissioned aircraft. This surreal landscape spans several acres, with planes of various sizes and models slowly being reclaimed by nature. Vines creep over wings, and trees grow through cockpits, creating a mesmerizing blend of man-made machinery and wild flora. This eerie site serves as a powerful reminder of the transient nature of technology and human progress.
4. Nagoya, Japan’s forgotten traffic signal yard.
In Nagoya, Japan, a meticulously organized graveyard of traffic signals creates an unexpected urban spectacle. Covering an area of about half an acre, hundreds of colorful lights stand in orderly rows, showcasing the evolution of Japanese traffic management technology. This unique collection provides fascinating insights into urban infrastructure development and road safety systems, attracting urban planners and engineers from around the world.
5. Leopard 1 tank graveyard.
A secure location houses dozens of retired Leopard 1 tanks, creating an imposing military hardware graveyard. Covering several acres, these once-fearsome war machines stand in silent rows, their armored hulls bearing the scars of past conflicts. This site offers military history enthusiasts and researchers a unique opportunity to study the design and capabilities of these iconic Cold War-era tanks up close, serving as a stark reminder of evolving defense technologies.
6. The Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard in Bangladesh.
The Chittagong Ship Breaking Yard in Bangladesh spans 18 kilometers of coastline, making it one of the largest ship graveyards in the world. Here, hundreds of massive vessels meet their end, dismantled by thousands of workers. This sprawling site processes about 50% of the world’s scrapped ships, creating a surreal landscape of rusting hulks and skeletal frames. The yard offers a sobering glimpse into the global shipping industry’s lifecycle and raises important environmental and labor concerns.
7. Underwater tank graveyard off Donegal, Ireland.
Off the coast of Donegal, Ireland, lies a mysterious underwater tank graveyard. Dozens of World War II-era Sherman tanks rest on the seabed, creating an eerie artificial reef. This unique site, covering approximately 1 square kilometer, resulted from a wartime shipwreck. Today, it serves as a haunting reminder of conflict and an intriguing destination for divers and marine life, offering a glimpse into history beneath the waves.
8. VW Kombi vans abandoned in Victoria, Australia.
In Victoria, Australia, a field of abandoned VW Kombi vans creates a nostalgic graveyard. Dozens of these iconic vehicles, spanning various models and years, sit quietly rusting away. This unique collection, covering about an acre, tells the story of changing automotive trends and the enduring appeal of these beloved vans. The site has become a pilgrimage spot for VW enthusiasts and photographers, capturing the essence of a bygone era in automotive history.
9. A graveyard of rocking horses in rural Massachusetts.
In rural Massachusetts, a whimsical graveyard of rocking horses known as “Ponyhenge” has mysteriously appeared. Over 30 toy horses of various styles and sizes are arranged in a field, creating a surreal and ever-changing installation. This peculiar site, covering about a quarter-acre, has become a local attraction, with horses occasionally rearranged by unknown visitors. Ponyhenge offers a playful and slightly eerie testament to collaborative, anonymous art and rural eccentricity.
10. B-29 bombers left on Tinian Island after WWII.
On Tinian Island, a haunting graveyard of B-29 bombers stands as a silent reminder of World War II’s Pacific theater. Dozens of these massive aircraft, once crucial to the Allied war effort, now rust away in the tropical climate. This unique site, spanning several acres, offers a powerful glimpse into military history and the rapid obsolescence of wartime technology. Today, it serves as both a somber memorial and an intriguing destination for history buffs and photographers.
11. An underwater museum beneath Isla Mujeres’ waters.
Beneath the waters off Isla Mujeres, Mexico, lies the Underwater Museum of Art (MUSA), a hauntingly beautiful artificial reef. Over 500 life-sized sculptures are submerged across 420 square meters of seabed, creating a unique blend of art and marine conservation. This underwater graveyard of human forms serves as a captivating dive site, promoting coral growth and marine biodiversity while offering a thought-provoking exploration of humanity’s relationship with the ocean.
12. World War I-era steamships submerged in Mallows Bay, Maryland.
In Mallows Bay, Maryland, the ghostly remains of nearly 200 wooden steamships from World War I create the largest ship graveyard in the Western Hemisphere. Spanning 14 square miles, these partially submerged wrecks form a unique ecosystem, now teeming with diverse wildlife. This haunting site offers a fascinating glimpse into maritime history and demonstrates nature’s ability to reclaim and repurpose human-made structures, attracting historians, ecologists, and kayakers alike.
13. Abandoned Soviet tanks in Siberia.
Deep in the Siberian wilderness, a graveyard of abandoned Soviet tanks creates a surreal, post-apocalyptic landscape. Dozens of these once-formidable war machines, including T-34s and IS-3s, lie scattered across several acres of frozen tundra. This remote site serves as a stark reminder of the Cold War era and the rapid technological advancements in military hardware. Today, it attracts adventurous photographers and military history enthusiasts seeking a glimpse into the Soviet Union’s military past.
14. Radioactive tanks and helicopters left to decay in Chernobyl.
In the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone, a graveyard of radioactive tanks and helicopters offers a chilling reminder of the 1986 nuclear disaster. Hundreds of contaminated vehicles, used in the cleanup efforts, now slowly decay across several acres. This eerie site, still dangerously radioactive, serves as a stark warning about the long-lasting consequences of nuclear accidents. It has become a somber attraction for disaster tourism, offering visitors a haunting glimpse into one of history’s worst nuclear catastrophes.
15. Volkswagen and Audi vehicles abandoned in the Mojave Desert.
In the vast Mojave Desert, thousands of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles sit abandoned, creating a surreal automotive graveyard. This site, spanning hundreds of acres, is a direct result of the 2015 emissions scandal. These cars, manufactured between 2009 and 2015, were designed to cheat emissions tests. Now they serve as a stark reminder of corporate misconduct and its environmental impact, attracting photographers and serving as a cautionary tale for the automotive industry.
16. Kuwait’s enormous graveyard of over 7 million tires.
Kuwait’s tire graveyard is a environmental disaster of staggering proportions. Covering approximately 2 square kilometers, it contains over 7 million discarded tires. This apocalyptic landscape often experiences fires, releasing toxic smoke visible for miles. The sheer scale of this site highlights the urgent need for sustainable waste management practices and serves as a stark warning about the consequences of unchecked consumerism, making it one of the most visually striking and environmentally concerning product graveyards in the world.
