ABANDONED SKY SCRAPER East St. Louis The Spivey Building

Explore this abandoned sky scraper, The Tallest Building in East St. Louis, Illinois. The Spivey Building stands as a decaying reminder of a once promising past and broken dreams. East St. Louis once an economic power house was a victim of lost industry, race riots interstate by pass, corruption, abuse and socioeconomic tragedy.
Subscribe for more Abandoned Exploring Adventures! From the hood, inner city urban settings, to country farmhouses and everything in between. Catch a glimpse of a dying and dissapearing part of our history. Always the possibility of evp and ghost activity. Do you believe haunted places exist? Overgrown entangled scary abandoned buildings abound!
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[@johnlangvin9136]

I remember going into the spivey building to see my doctor when i was a child breaks my heart to see this once beautiful town in such decay !

[@LR-je7nn]

Doctor Jerry Kane was our family doctor. I think he was on the fourth floor. He actually made house calls and saved my life. I went to my family doctor today. He had a nice new and expanded waiting room. The visits use to be 10 or 15 minutes long. Today's visit was Maybe 5 minutes!

[@bookofjohn1623]

MY MOM WORKED AS A SECETARY IN THE SPIVEY BUILDING FOR A DOCTOR IN THE 50'S-60'S

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

Ur mom lol my uncle says he knew her the doctor was his Ted Wortman deceased Frank Buster Wortman Deceased my grandfather google him

[@genniejefferson1892]

I know this was a beautiful city at one time. Thanks for showing it

[@TattooTonyAlton]

Gennie Jefferson thanks

[@chelseaaye6346]

I'm glad you mentioned there are nice areas in East Saint Louis. That is a sad misconception that every inch of the city is torn down and everyone in the city is dangerous and if you go through the city you'll be shot down.

[@bobwalker599]

You had to do this in the early early morning

[@snoopydancin4u]

Awesome job! So proud of you. You continue to improve your craft & it shows. Keep up the great work.

[@couchfighter]

Didnt know this video was out there..I need to dig in on your channel more. Great job! always fun to watch.

[@KR-sh6rm]

Another great explore! I had that same tiny grill out on the patio of my first apartment years ago. You'd be surprised how much you can fit on it at one time. Good times!

[@kathycrutcher2671]

I love the history you in the videos although it's sad to see a city so desolate.another awesome find and video.

[@PoliceChaplainMisty]

I love these explores from different states , Thank you for the history

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+PoliceChaplainMisty #theFam Thanks for watching..

[@slarson8044]

Very interesting video. Great view from the roof. How sad, though, to see the decay of this building.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

Susan Larson Yup very sad

[@corygarrett9151]

I saw painting that said "R.I.P. Mike brown" wow, that's how recent that was spray painted, be careful man! I remember watchin the fergoson riots on tv when mike brown died, I live in highland Illinois, bout 25 mins from east stl. I had jury duty not long ago at the east stl courthouse. I drove around afterwards and just checked stuff out, so sad how it is now, I grew up in Cahokia, right down the street (4 miles) from east stl, very nice video, thanks for your work!

[@Greg_call]

Good documentary. Thanks for sharing.

[@jamesdavis5096]

A heads up. If you look at the Metrolink station you will see a bridge. It is a brand new footbridge across the highway. A bridge design for 50,000 people a day. while there is a highway bridge ten feet away that anybody can walk across. A very wise man pointed this out to me. Also if you read the sign it says Central City. Central City housing or apartments or condominiums there. Their plan is to build a wall around that area make it a private subdivision. And eventually build skyscrapers where that footbridge leads to. That's all part of 50-year plan. they are planning a new city they're called Central City.

[@wesleyschoettner9962]

just got done watching the abandoned skyscraper awesome footage

[@jamesnull5415]

Great video! Thanks for posting this.🇺🇸

[@MaxZomboni]

Too bad it's so far gone. It would have made great loft apartments. Can you imagine waking up every day and having that view out your window?

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Max Zomboni Ya it would've been cool. Could probably be saved. But, the problem is people with enough income to have a high enough lease to justify renovation, wouldn't live in East St. Louis

[@Seekwell4363]

that yellow cube on top of the pole behind spivey is one of STLs old air raid sirens known as an sd 10

[@brendakern5264]

made by Federal Signal Right?

[@Silver-he8xk]

Heyy Tony! This was awesome! I love how you give us a history lesson while doing the tours ! Keep up great work!

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Lorie B thanks

[@lukestange]

Fun fact: the first building you’re shown driving past is an abandoned theatre. It’s amazing.

[@ronaldkrurk3424]

It's a damn shame how these cities just started to decay.

[@erikmcc804]

hello Tony I love this amazing I used to live in E St Louis and it was originally called Illinoistown amazing thanks and please be safe . :-)

[@icebankmicelf]

Hi Erik, do you know where Sonny Shields Music Studio used to be?

[@erikmcc804]

@@icebankmicelf we i think it was on the mainstrip on Collinsville ave

[@Firebyrd47]

This is awesome. Are you part of any exploring groups like on facebook or anything?

[@carlowens2193]

The area really took a decline when they closed the Ford plant. Then the Chrysler plant closed in not too long ago. Great video I was always curious about the building.

[@EllicottCity1]

Nice explore~ totally dig that grill :)

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Ellicott City Thanks.. appreciate it

[@SueGirling68]

A really cool building for photographs, good job ;) x

[@SueGirling68]

Hey Gothic how are you ??, have you checked out 539 productions they are awesome. Oh by the way call me Sue ;) x

[@SueGirling68]

Awww bless, I have 7 cats, I have a special one though as she is so different to the others, she is almost human lol and wakes myself n my hubby up at 6am with kisses n cuddles every morning lol. If you like I can via private message send you my facebook link to show you her pic. x

[@hanschristoph9822]

😻👍👍😎

[@poor_man_collector_2]

About all I have to say is WOW just WOW.its sad to see diying cities like that.awesome video and history.thanks Tony

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Bobby Mcalpin No problem.. I hope to continue to inform and entertain.. As well as make a surviving visual record..

[@hadleymanmusic]

Man ! I need a place to live and establish a animal rescue. I need space for a internet broadcast studio to showcase bands and to home the fosters and homeless animals.

[@AreneStheme]

I did not get to film this area when I was back there last week. Thanks for posting: it seemed like a bomb had been dropped and I was in an undeveloped country. My Uber driver said someone tied to car jack him in 2009. A freeway goes through where my childhood home used to be from 1963-1975. Broadway was the SIEU-E campus. Teachers were excellent back then, Community was excellent and supportive back then.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+arene s cool.. Thanks for watching.. I have more videos posted from east stl.. it's a pretty rough area.. some blocks worse than others... however downtown is fairly safe during the day

[@decayofalberta1520]

Great video, great views from the video

[@thedeadzone9236]

Amazing that a lot of tall buildings like this are abandoned all across the country, I've been inside a couple of abandoned towers and they are bad azz

[@Avenue72nd]

New fan of urban exploration.. this was cool and scary at the same time..

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Dasha Jean cool.. check my uploads.. I have a lot of different videos and kinds of locations. I think youll enjoy

[@Avenue72nd]

Thank you... I started binge watching some of your videos today and will watch more tonight. Keep doing what you are doing.. it's so informative and exciting..

[@willbygosh4887]

Has potential,would make great affordable senior apartments.

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

Not in this area lolololol

[@richards1191]

Cool video reminds me of the way Rockford seems to be heading in a similar direction!

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Richard S maybe

[@richards1191]

Yea Rockford is almost like several different cities in one. Some areas including the so called nice side of the city are falling apart. While other areas have seen big investments and renewal. I live on the west side and mostly on this side is getting more and more abandoned. While downtown area is seeing a resurgence! This city seems stuck in a pattern it grows then shrinks then grows then shrinks over and over again:(

[@metoo3821]

I was born in ESL - 1945. My pediatrician's office was in this building (Dr Knause) as was my Mother's Obstetrician. Have seen another video of the Spivey Building that showed hallways with doorways along them, guess that video was taken long before yours. (And yes, I agree with the person who said it would be nice of you to post the date you took the video.)

[@doug6191]

The car that passed you in the beginning... That's how to drive in ESL. The yield signs look like stop signs.

[@diabeto46]

What a huge exploration

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Diabeto 46 thanks

[@parkerangel6315]

Do you live in stl? Curious because I love your videos, I'm from jersey county illinois and always wanted to see inside these buildings! Great videos keep it up!

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Illinois welder yes

[@parkerangel6315]

Do you know any cool run down buildings, Maybe by the Eads Bridge?

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Illinois welder I dunno.. if you drive around the North side of the city abandoned shit is everywhere

[@dustydaisy2658]

Only thing keeping east st. louis from completely collapsing are the strip bars

[@shirleytaylor6015]

Strip club and wine bars

[@lindsayjames3413]

I worked in sauget,Brooklyn, centerville lmfao gladvto be long gone from that life and area😎dont forget the casino queen over there

[@DizzzyKipper]

Hello new sub,. Could you please publish when you documented these beautiful buildings.Much appreciated. I am so enamored with your findings. I am a great lover of architecture and always think to myself I could fix that.Also love the knackered furniture "and think the same".Been a dumpster diver since I was a child. I come from old emigrants and still believe "waste not want not".Love your content.Thank you. Don't let the criticism get you down.However sometimes your commentary is over whelmed by the music. It is hard to hear what you have to say.Also as a late comer and this is your hobby it is a learning experience.Great documentation on how the USA is becoming a 3rd world nation.Very sad. Love my country and the republic.Any way thank you great footage and documentation.

[@vivianjohnson4637]

Another great video Tony ! Did I mention that I love your voice ! Lol

[@cliffont]

That grill with the burgers and sausages...weird.

[@don417]

They ran out of Mustard

[@erikmcc804]

this building house tons of Doctors Offices and Lawyer offices and it awesome looking also housed the E ST LOUIS JOURNEL amazing!!

[@anonomous-vn6tr]

I went to school at Assumption High School from 1966-1970. Mayor Fields did not send his children to the public school but to Assumption. It seemed to have been starting back then. I was not impressed by the city. I am glad I did not have to live there. I saw a dentist there at the Spivey building named Dr. Kowapis.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

Awesome thanks for the info

[@SRSOSChannel2]

East St. Louis was actually also know, once upon a time, as the Broadway of the Midwest for it's theater and performing stage houses and Broadway and silent movie stars who both frequented the city and some of whom lived there. The Spivey Bldg was the tallest building in Southern Illinois for a long time . Don't know if there's a taller building in Carbondale maybe now (?)

[@dustydaisy2658]

Where would ILL get the money to restore this building? with the budget crunch east st. louis is going to get ten times worse?

[@butchfletcher5694]

Spivey is not a sky scraper. Some buildings usually skipped a 13th floor due to superstition. Becareful in East Side. Folk don't play there.

[@rodneykingston6420]

I grew up in North St. Louis county in the '70s and even in those days, E. St. L had this reputation as a nightmarish, crime ridden, scary place that you were taking your life in your hands just by venturing into. Nonetheless, I started going over there when I was 18 or 19 because there was a nightclub there where I could get into despite being underage. In fact, he flashes the camera at the entrance to the old place @0:40. That would have been late 1982-mid 1984. And I think at that time, the Spivey building was still in operation as a commercial entity. My question, when was it last operational as an actual office building? How long after that did it take for its interior to dissolve down to the bare concrete? What were the very last businesses in there? If the city around it wasn't in such decay, it most likely would have been turned into apartments. Such a waste.

[@greyeaglem]

It's not abandoned, but you might want to check out Nauvoo IL. It's where the Mormons were before they went to Salt Lake City. The Mormons had to abandon everything when they were forced to leave. They are in the process or restoring it. You can tour Browning's gun shop and some other places like the newspaper office. In its hey-day, Nauvoo was bigger than Chicago was at the time. They had their on state sanctioned militia. It's a nice place to tour. The biggest city near it would be Burlington IA, almost directly across the river from it.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+greyeaglem cool thanks.. I've heard of it..

[@louiseberen1608]

OMG! It’s worse than I thought! East S. Louis became so dangerous Merchants and Business moved out. People were afraid to to drive through there.

[@DVincentW]

You forgot to pull the audio down from your video.

[@Tom-V]

Is this place still accessible?

[@Tom-V]

Nvm

[@usrailcom]

That was fascinating. Thank you.

[@robertpot-roastpiezuch5448]

hey your Videos are so much better then when you first started and thats great congrtz! also the balls you have to go in this building! i drive by this daily and it give me the hibby jibbies that and the asbestos signs... awesome job!

[@anonomous-vn6tr]

I actually lived in another county and had o take a school bus to school. It was about a 10-15 mile bus ride each day

[@TattooTonyAlton]

Thanks for watching and for the comment

[@QuaaludeCharlie]

Liked , Shared , Subbed , Thank you :) QC

[@soxpacker]

Dude obviously never saw Trespass...really cool video though.

[@UrbexStLouis]

What do you drive and where do you park? I want to do so much in east stl but I don't want my car destroyed

[@c.bernardwebb4658]

You would think that since Metrolink passes through, Downtown E.St.Louis would be banging with new businesses, but poor city government and crime, it would be a lot of work to do.

[@DurandMj]

I existed there for five years!..

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+melvin jones in the spivey, or east st

[@crippledbeast_U-toob]

Interesting explore. The building looks to be mostly structurally sound, I did see in the shot with the Arch where the red brick facade needs to be repointed, there was almost no mortar left. The cost of just that one job for that whole building is more than it or it's neighborhood is worth. Shame.

[@lifelikereborndollsbyagirl1704]

In 2008 my landlord and myself went into this building because he was considering trying to buy it. We got to the third floor and there was a man laying in the bed like it was his house! My landlord stopped and talked to him but I immediately turned around and got the F out of Dodge! I grew up in East Saint Louis and it is not a place you want to raise anybody!

[@johnpublik529]

I think that building is beyond renovation. Too much decay, and 6 mil would only be a drop in the bucket. Besides that, just look at where it is. There is no hope for St. Louis. I last visited there in 96, and I thought it was the trashiest place I had ever visited. And I thought Gary Indiana was a trash pit. The Arch was very cool though. Would have been cool to live there after WW2.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+John Publik ya.. most of what you saw on the northside is gone... north of downtown, giant areas are bulldozed since 96'the southside has some really nice areas. I don't think it's fair to call the whole city a trashpit. Lot's of cities I would love to visit have blocks of decay and dilapidation. 1996 was probably at the height of very violent gang violence.

[@thackett6940]

John this is East St. Louis, Not St. Louis which on the other side of the Mississippi. East St. Louis is in the State of Illinois. St. Louis is in Missouri. They are completely separated by the river. St. Louis (downtown) has had many lofts and other structures built to bring it up to par as a growing city; however, the city does have a long way to go. There is still a lot of crime in the city of St. Louis. Like Chicago, Los Angeles, etc, there are city limits everywhere. East St. Louis is not far from Collinsville, Belleville and Scott Airforce Base which have great communities in about a 15 minute radius. St. Louis is the same way. In fact, within about a 15 to 30 mile radius of St. Louis, Missouri you will find Clayton, Ofallon, University City, Central West End, The Hill, Webster Groves, Creve Couer, Maryland Heights, Florissant, and other suburban areas where you will find middle to wealthy communities. Check out those areas and do you homework before commenting please. St. Louis, like the other mentioned areas are made up of many communities. You are only speaking of what you know and this video is not even in St. Louis or Missouri.

[@devinpartin2528]

Tear that building down! Before someone gets hurt!

[@rosemarybaker4148]

I love st.louis. I hate that when people hear stl mentioned this is what they vision.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

I love st Louis and all the old architecture thro ugh the northside.. I love the decay.. I love seeing all of this.. st Louis has character and is a very old city.. I love the blight

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

My Grandfather Frank Buster Wortman ran this town from late 50s to late 60s google him

[@chelseaaye6346]

My great grandmother worked for him

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

@@chelseaaye6346 who was she her name?

[@rr-it8ll]

I drive by that

[@genekelly8467]

Notice the dumpsters near the building-there must be some business operating there. ESL shows you what happens when the jobs move away; this need not have happened. But it did, and now there is no reviving this corpse.

[@butchvito]

I wonder why East St. Louis was referred to as "Pittsburgh of the West" when it lies East of the Mississippi?

[@CertifiedHuSTLer]

Because its across river from st Louis gateway to the wrst my good man thats why plus all the steel mills

[@butchvito]

@@CertifiedHuSTLer - Oh, I get they were both steel mill towns. I was just overanalyzing things.

[@BINOBANZ]

I went here the other night lmao

[@saintlouis1087]

Why?

[@TheSWolfe]

I've driven past, and bussed thru St. Louis several times ... it's been yrs ago, tho. I recall, near the arch, rt. next to downtown, a big squarish aging residential area w/old family homes & brick apt. bldgs., that sat lower than the elevated tangle of interstate & roadway interchanges maneuvering both around the city & into old downtown proper, where the Greyhound station was/perhaps still is. Rolling past it, on my way out of town one afternoon, I remember thinking, even back then, that it was on it's way out, & that I was probably seeing this neighborhood for the last time. It's probably long gone now, & I never even knew it's name.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+TheSWolfe Interesting Wonder if I can find the spot for you. Saint Louis, The old stuff, the history, the grit, the salt.. is almost gone.. It's gonna be one hell of a boring flattened field soon.

[@TheSWolfe]

Sounds about right for both place & timeframe.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

TheSWolfe I accidentally clicked the remove button on your bed vibrator comment on the motel.. wanted you too know it was accidental.. I like the comment and was going to reply.. feel free and retype it if you'd like lol

[@TheSWolfe]

De nada. U had a chance to read it & that'll do.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

TheSWolfe Ya I wouldn't retype it either if I was you... cool comment though.. i enjoyed it

[@peterpowers4851]

My theory about the grill is teens threw a BBQ and then the cops showed up.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

Maybe so

[@TheCiaMKultra]

Great Commentary ! So much better then an annoying techno soundtrack ....lol

[@SRSOSChannel2]

get over yourself. rent a life. move on. those that can, usually do. the rest are critics.

[@SteelyV]

Do you know when the building became Abandoned?? Good call not walking on that roof with the Standing water, with your weight and the weight of the water could make for a bad situation.

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Steely V1983 No, I'm sure I could find out

[@SteelyV]

Abandoned TattooTonyAlton Exploring cool just curious? You got any live streams Ton or tom ??

[@TattooTonyAlton]

Steely V1983 ill try soon.. maybe tomorrow

[@SteelyV]

Abandoned TattooTonyAlton Exploring cool !!! I will pay attention to my utube notifications if you do decide to post a live stream. I was a hour late last time lol. Take care bro.

[@dougn2350]

I believe that last tenants left Spivey Tower in 1977.

[@coolrayfruge]

They were probably chased off. Before they could eat.

[@jasonthewiczman5442]

I, Iike all the video's on abandoned Tattoo and places any dead mall's of America

[@samjabaji1726]

...graffiti writers had a cookout, the crew tag was right next to it. made too much left it for bums

[@TheAGAPETUS]

Funny no birds or even pigeons

[@danielyoung6630]

sad sad

[@matthewmeadows1617]

These jobs went overseas long ago caused this city to become a wasteland. I bet it was beautiful back then.

[@gylligangarbo6092]

WAGE let's take this building and add marble to the stairs and chandiliers in the stairs we'll fix the elevator to the third floor and run a ham radio radio station from the roof

[@Whatever70415]

Looks like turds on the grill 💩🤮

[@Bee_Boxing]

Rest in Peace Mike Brown!

[@alexluthor7215]

Ive seen another video with whites guys from st louis watching fireworks at the arch ,from the top of the building probably their grill , it would had been hot . I would had left it too ,

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+Alex Luthor ya.. send me the link

[@deshaefromarounthawayricha7324]

5th

[@TattooTonyAlton]

+deshae richardson awesome..

[@deshaefromarounthawayricha7324]

Abandoned TattooTonyAlton Exploring thanks

[@graeserhp]

hope you guys are packing some heat

[@lindadustin9975]

Bring America Back. DJT45.