Exploring Chicago’s Long-Abandoned Kohn Elementary School (Closed Since 2013)

KFJ Explores S5E8 - Exploring Chicago’s Long-Abandoned Alfred D. Kohn Elementary School (Closed Since 2013) w/ me today: @explorecreatewonder Today, we’re venturing into Chicago’s far South Side to explore the long-abandoned Kohn Elementary School — a century-old institution that educated generations of students before becoming one of the many casualties of Chicago's 2013 mass school closure. Constructed in 1912, Kohn elementary served as a cornerstone to the Roseland community, educating students from pre-school through 8th grade for over 100 years before its closure. But after years of declining enrollment, the Chicago Public School Board ultimately voted to close the school, alongside 49 others, in what remains as the largest mass school closure in American history. To city officials, these schools were underutilized buildings and they claimed this decision would save money and allow for a better education system, but, its reality proved to be far more complicated. These closures disproportionately affected already-struggling primarily-black communities, cost over 1000 teachers their jobs, and forced over 12,000 students to transfer to unfamiliar schools and neighborhoods. Now more than a decade later, the former elementary school still remains abandoned. its classrooms sit empty, its hallways are lined with graffiti, and years of neglect have taken their toll on the building. Yet despite the vandalism and decay, pieces of its past still remain. - Hidden inside is a massive combined auditorium and gymnasium, complete with its original stage, rows of seating, and its red basketball court - a room where where countless assemblies, performances, and sporting events once took place that now sits eerily silent. Now join us as we venture inside and explore the long forgotten Khon elementary school. My Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kfj.explore... My TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@kfj.explores?... My Facebook:   / kfj.explores   Previous Videos:    • Exploring an Abandoned Bowling Alley & Arc...      • Exploring a Century-Old Abandoned Bank w/ ...   Audio Credits: Peace and Serenity -    • Peace and Serenity   Never Forgive Me, Never Forget Me -    • Never Forgive Me, Never Forget Me   Letter - from The Lost Days -    • Letter - from The Lost Days   00:00 - Introduction/History 03:16 - Auditorium/Gymnasium 05:52 - Main Level (Staircases) 07:09 - 2nd Level (Green Hallway, Mural, Classrooms) 11:10 - 3rd Level (Green Hallway & Library) 15:12 - Photos