Barber-Colman Factory, Rockford, Illinois

Barber-Colman Company was founded in Rockford, Illinois, in 1894 and grew into one of the city's largest manufacturers, producing textile machinery, door operators, and precision motion-control equipment. At its peak the firm employed thousands of workers across a sprawling factory complex on Rockford's west side. The company sold off its various divisions between the 1980s and the early 2000s, and manufacturing at the original site ended soon after. The vacant buildings have since become known locally for extensive graffiti, including large-scale murals on the old water tower.

Photo taken in February 2024.