Industrial

41 photos · 2013–2023

41 photographs tagged Industrial, 2013–2023.

BP Whiting Refinery at night with illuminated distillation towers, railroad cars, and steam plumes against a purple twilight sky. — The BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, is illuminated at night, with a flare stack burning and steam rising from industrial processes. Railcars are visible on tracks in the foreground, indicating the transport of materials to and from the facility. The refinery complex features numerous towers, pipes, and lighting structures characteristic of large-scale petroleum processing operations. As the largest oil refinery in the Midwest and BP's largest globally, the Whiting facility plays a significant role in regional energy production and supply chains. Its operations are integral to the industrial landscape of Northwest Indiana, processing crude oil into various refined products. The nighttime view highlights the continuous operational nature of such critical energy infrastructure.

BP Whiting Refinery in Indiana operates at night with illuminated processing units and steam plumes rising against a twilight sky. — The BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, is a sprawling industrial complex characterized by its intricate network of pipes, towering distillation columns, and illuminated processing units.

Industrial refinery facility in Whiting, Indiana, illuminated at night with steel lattice towers, piping systems, and red warning lights against a purple twilight sky. — The BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, is illuminated at night, showcasing its extensive industrial structures and complex network of pipes and towers. Red warning lights are visible atop tall lattice towers, indicating operational activity within the facility.

BP Whiting Refinery's illuminated industrial complex at night with distillation towers, steam plumes, and power infrastructure against a purple twilight sky. — The BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, is illuminated at night, with steam rising from its industrial structures and power lines crisscrossing the foreground. This facility is recognized as the largest oil refinery in the Midwest and BP's largest globally. The refinery plays a critical role in the region's energy infrastructure, processing crude oil into various petroleum products. Its operations are integral to the supply chain for fuels and other essential materials, impacting both the local economy and broader energy markets.

BP Whiting Refinery in Indiana operates at night with illuminated steel lattice towers, piping infrastructure, and red warning lights against a dark sky. — Illuminated industrial structures and complex pipework are visible at the BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, during nighttime operations. The facility, which is the largest oil refinery in the Midwest and BP's largest globally, processes crude oil into various petroleum products. Its extensive infrastructure supports continuous production, contributing significantly to regional energy supply and the economy.

BP Whiting Refinery at night with illuminated distillation towers, steel framework, and piping infrastructure in Whiting, Indiana. — The BP Whiting Refinery in Whiting, Indiana, is illuminated at night, showcasing its complex network of distillation towers, pipes, and platforms. This facility is the largest oil refinery in the Midwest and BP's largest globally. Established in 1942, the refinery has undergone numerous expansions and upgrades to meet evolving energy demands. It plays a critical role in processing crude oil into gasoline, diesel fuel, and other petroleum products essential for the region's transportation and industrial sectors. The refinery's operations are a significant factor in the local economy and the broader energy supply chain of the United States.

Storage tanks at Construction Resources Management in Green Bay, Wisconsin, illuminated on a winter night. — Large cylindrical storage tanks at Construction Resources Management, Inc. line the west bank of the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Viewed from across the frozen river on a winter night, the facility is illuminated by perimeter lighting that reflects faintly off the ice. The site serves regional construction and materials operations, part of the industrial corridor that has long defined the waterfront between downtown Green Bay and the port district.

Rotary kiln system at the Graymont lime plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, at night. — A section of the rotary kiln system at the Graymont lime plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, captured at night under maintenance and work lights. The massive rotating kiln—central to the calcination process that transforms limestone into high-purity lime—runs along a network of elevated platforms, access stairs, and steel supports. The orange glow from overhead lamps highlights the heat-intensive nature of kiln operations, while the surrounding catwalks and conveyors reflect the layered engineering required to keep the continuous production line moving.

Lime silos and transfer systems at the Graymont plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin, illuminated at night. — Illuminated by a single amber work light, the upper platforms and transfer pipes of the Graymont lime plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin stand out against the night sky. The cylindrical storage silos are connected by enclosed conveyor and piping systems that move processed lime between different stages of production. Catwalks, ladders, and pipe supports trace the geometry of an industrial site that has long supplied lime for regional steelmaking, water treatment, and construction uses.

Conveyor towers and processing equipment at the Graymont lime plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin at night. — A detailed nighttime view of the conveyor towers and processing equipment at the Graymont lime plant in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The illuminated catwalks, ducts, and steel trusses highlight the facility’s continuous material-handling system, where crushed limestone moves through enclosed conveyors toward the plant’s kilns and storage silos. Fine dust, visible in the lights near the upper platforms, reflects the industrial character of a site that has served the region’s construction and manufacturing sectors for decades.

The Graymont lime plant operates at night along the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with lights reflecting on the frozen water. — The Graymont lime processing plant along the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin, illuminated during nighttime operations. The facility’s network of silos, conveyors, and dust-collection towers stands out against the dark sky, with steam drifting from active kilns and processing units. Reflections from the plant’s industrial lighting shimmer across the frozen river surface, highlighting the site’s role in the region’s long-standing manufacturing and mineral production corridor.

Green Bay Packaging's modern paper mill on the Fox River in Wisconsin emits steam plumes into the winter night sky. — Green Bay Packaging's recycled paper mill sits along the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The company completed this containerboard mill in 2021, replacing an older facility and consolidating production into a single advanced plant designed to cut water and energy use. The mill produces recycled containerboard used in corrugated packaging, drawing on the company's long history as a family-owned packaging manufacturer based in Green Bay. Steam from its process operations is a routine byproduct of papermaking, generated by the heat required to pulp and dry recycled fiber into new board.

Green Bay Packaging mill on the Fox River in Wisconsin releases steam into the winter night sky. — Green Bay Packaging's recycled paper mill sits on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The company completed the $500 million facility in 2021, replacing a containerboard mill that had operated on the site for more than seven decades. The new mill was built to use recycled fiber as its primary raw material while cutting water and energy use compared to the plant it replaced. Green Bay Packaging is an employee-owned company that has operated in the city since 1933.

USG directional sign at the Cloquet, Minnesota manufacturing facility. — USG Corporation, once known as United States Gypsum, traces its roots to 1902 and today ranks among the largest manufacturers of gypsum wallboard in North America. The company's Cloquet facility sits in a Carlton County city long tied to the region's timber and forest products economy. USG's core products include drywall, joint compound, and ceiling systems sold to builders and contractors across the continent.

USG paper mill facility illuminated at night in Cloquet, Minnesota, with industrial buildings and production infrastructure. — USG Paper Mill in Cloquet, Minnesota, operates as an industrial manufacturing complex on the city’s south side. The facility includes a guarded entrance, rail siding, and large production buildings associated with United States Gypsum’s paper operations. Night security lighting illuminates the plant and adjacent yard.

Brillion Iron Works foundry interior in Brillion, Wisconsin, with water on the floor. — Brillion Iron Works foundry in Brillion, Wisconsin. The iron foundry closed in 2016 and was demolished in 2019.

Brick foundry building with white entrance doors and rows of windows in Brillion, Wisconsin. — Brillion Iron Works operated as a gray-iron foundry in Brillion, Wisconsin, casting parts for agricultural and heavy machinery manufacturers for much of the 20th century. The plant was one of the town's largest employers before it closed in 2016. The building was later razed, ending nearly a century of use on the site.

Airline Highway overpasses in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, span an industrial roadway corridor. — Airline Highway overpasses in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, carry traffic above an industrial corridor near the city’s petrochemical facilities. The elevated roadway network is part of the transportation system that links Baton Rouge’s commercial and industrial areas.

ExxonMobil Chemical's illuminated sign at Baton Rouge Chemicals North facility on Scenic Highway at night. — ExxonMobil Chemical's Baton Rouge Chemicals North facility sits at 5955 Scenic Highway along the Mississippi River. It's part of the larger Baton Rouge complex, which ExxonMobil has operated since 1909 and which ranks among the largest integrated refining and petrochemical sites in the United States. The complex produces plastics, synthetic rubber, and other chemical intermediates used in manufacturing, and it remains one of the largest industrial employers in the Baton Rouge area.

ExxonMobil refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana illuminated at night with green and blue lights on distillation towers and storage tanks. — ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge refinery began operating in 1909 and now ranks among the largest refining complexes in the United States, with a crude capacity of roughly 520,000 barrels per day. The site spans more than 2,300 acres along the Mississippi River and includes an adjacent chemical plant and polyolefins plant, forming one of the largest integrated petrochemical complexes in the world. Distillation towers and flare stacks process crude into gasoline, diesel, and feedstocks for plastics and other chemical products. The refinery sits within Louisiana's industrial corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, an 85-mile stretch dense with petrochemical facilities.

Zen-Noh Grain export facility in Convent, Louisiana, with illuminated grain-loading towers at night. — Zen-Noh Grain Corporation’s export facility in Convent, Louisiana, operates along the Mississippi River as a major grain terminal. The complex loads corn, soybeans, and other bulk commodities for transfer from inland transport to ocean-going vessels.

Zen-Noh Grain Corporation terminal in Convent, Louisiana, with illuminated grain silos at night. — Zen-Noh Grain Corporation terminal in Convent, Louisiana. The Mississippi River facility stores and transfers grain for export through the Gulf Coast, handling agricultural commodities from the U.S. interior.

The J. P. Pulliam Generating Station on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin, with a dock in the foreground. — The J. P. Pulliam Generating Station, located on the Fox River in Green Bay, Wisconsin, was a significant industrial facility for electricity generation. Named after former Wisconsin Public Service Corporation president John Page Pulliam, the plant primarily utilized sub-bituminous coal, with natural gas as a backup fuel. Decommissioned in 2018, its coal-fired units ceased operation, leaving only a natural gas unit active. The station was connected to the regional power grid via 138 kV and 69 kV transmission lines, underscoring its role in supplying power to the area.

Barry & Sewall Chemical Company in Northeast Minneapolis rises at night with steam and illuminated pipework. — Barry & Sewall Chemical Company in Northeast Minneapolis manufactures industrial chemicals, including adhesives, coatings, and specialty products. The complex has operated for more than a century along the city’s industrial rail and river corridor. Steam rises from the plant at night.

Rear loading entrance of the former General Mills Purity Oats plant in Northeast Minneapolis, illuminated at night. — This view shows the rear loading and office entrance of the former General Mills Purity Oats facility in Northeast Minneapolis. Built during the city’s industrial boom, the complex once handled oat processing and packaging for one of the nation’s largest cereal producers.

General Mills Purity Oats facility storefront at 1201 Jackson Street NE in Northeast Minneapolis. — General Mills Purity Oats Facility, Minneapolis, at 1201 Jackson Street NE. The former industrial building in Northeast Minneapolis was part of General Mills’ grain and cereal processing operations.

Archer Daniels Midland Delmar Elevator No 7 — The long abandoned massive concrete Archer-Daniels-Midland Delmar Elevator No. 7 in Minneapolis. Known locally as the "United Crushers" mill after the large tag visible from miles away.

Abandoned grain elevator complex with weathered concrete silos and machinery in Kansas City, Missouri. — Kansas City's riverfront grain elevators grew up alongside the Missouri River and the rail lines that once made the city one of the country's busiest grain markets, second only to Chicago by the early 20th century. Concrete silo complexes like this one stored wheat and other grain awaiting shipment by barge and rail car, with the tall elevator housing the machinery used to load and unload it. Many of these structures date to the early-to-mid 1900s, when Kansas City's stockyards and grain exchange drove heavy industrial development along the riverbanks. As rail and grain traffic shifted elsewhere in later decades, a number of these elevators fell out of active use, though some in the district remain in service today.

Two industrial boilers with perforated steel drums in an abandoned cold storage facility. — Fire-tube boilers like these once generated the steam that powered refrigeration equipment in cold storage warehouses, a common setup through the mid-20th century. Running two units side by side gave plant engineers redundancy, letting one boiler operate while the other underwent maintenance or repair. Many such plants used ammonia-based refrigeration systems driven by boiler-generated steam, technology that was largely phased out as electric compressors became the industry standard by the 1970s and 1980s.

Steel framework structures of an Xcel Energy electrical substation in St. Paul, Minnesota. — Steel framework structures and transmission equipment fill the grounds of an Xcel Energy electrical substation near downtown St. Paul, with the city skyline visible in the distance at dusk.

Grain elevator headhouse and conveyor structures at the Gavilon Red Rock Elevator in South St. Paul, Minnesota. — Gavilon Red Rock Elevator is a grain handling facility located in South St. Paul, Minnesota. The site is operated by Gavilon Grain, a commodity trading and grain storage company. The complex includes a headhouse tower, conveyor system, and grain silos used for receiving, storing, and loading grain shipments. Barge and rail access along the Mississippi River allows the facility to transfer grain between transportation modes.

Ford Motors Steam Plant in St. Paul — The abandoned decaying Ford Motors steam plant on the banks of the Mississippi River. The plant has sat vacant since the 2011 closure of the Twin Cities Assembly Plant.

CHS grain elevators illuminated at night along Lake Superior's western shore in Superior, Wisconsin. — CHS Grain Elevators in Superior, Wisconsin, are part of the Port of Superior’s grain-handling facilities. The complex stores and transfers grain for shipment by rail and vessel on the western shore of Lake Superior.

Industrial pipes and metal staircase at University of Minnesota's Main Energy Plant facility. — The Main Energy Plant, on the University of Minnesota's Minneapolis campus along the Mississippi River, generates steam and electricity for the Twin Cities campus through a combined heat and power system.

Railroad tracks lead to a General Mills grain elevator and freight train at night in Minneapolis. — A General Mills grain elevator complex sits along active rail lines in Minneapolis. General Mills, headquartered in Golden Valley, Minnesota, operates grain milling and food production facilities across the Minneapolis area. Rail spurs connect the elevator to the wider freight network, including Canadian National and other North American carriers, for shipping grain and finished products.

ADM Nokomis Flour Mill complex in South Minneapolis at night, featuring illuminated grain silos and brick mill buildings adjacent to railroad tracks. — ADM Nokomis Flour Mill in South Minneapolis was an Archer Daniels Midland grain-processing facility. The complex includes mill buildings, grain silos, and rail access for moving grain and flour. The mill closed in mid-2019.

Thunder Bay grain elevators in Ontario beside CN freight cars on the port rail line. — The Thunder Bay grain elevators in Thunder Bay, Ontario, stand beside CN freight cars along the port rail line on Lake Superior. The complex stores and transfers grain for shipment by rail and vessel, with the main elevator structures and conveyor systems visible above the tracks.

Weathered railroad safety sign warning "Do not ride top of car beyond this point" at Omaha rail yard. — The sign's warning — "Do Not Ride Top of Car Beyond This Point" — marks a boundary once used to keep brakemen and yard workers from climbing onto moving rail cars, a common but dangerous practice before modern safety rules restricted it. Rail yards like this one relied on such hand-lettered signage to communicate hazards long before standardized safety placards became common. The rusted mounting and weathered lettering suggest the sign has stood in place for decades, outlasting much of the rail activity it once regulated.

Concrete grain elevator complex with silos and headhouse during demolition in Dinkytown, Minneapolis. — Demolition of grain elevators in Minneapolis taking place in February 2017.

MaltOne Grain Elevator and Rail Yard in Minneapolis with grain bins and rail tracks. — MaltOne Grain Elevator and Rail Yard in Minneapolis stores and transfers bulk grain by rail. The facility includes grain bins, processing structures, and track connections used for loading agricultural commodities.

Industrial motor and gear housing beside a wall-mounted electrical relay panel inside a grain elevator. — This room houses an electric drive motor connected to industrial gearing inside a grain elevator. A relay panel with rows of terminal blocks and wiring mounts on the wall beside the motor. The motor's large cylindrical housing and exposed shaft couple to heavy gear casings used to power elevator machinery. Equipment of this type typically drives leg belts, conveyors, or bucket elevators that move grain within the facility.

Built in Minneapolis

Minneapolis Photographer

Browse by location, move through long-running series, or start with recent work.

Facebook Instagram Threads X Bluesky Flickr

© 1996–2026 Chad Davis