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Here's how it all started
In the Summer of 2007, two kids stepped foot inside an old abandoned mill. From then on, those two boys never thought the same about the world again. The concept of beauty and adventure had been changed in them, and they were determined to push limits, and to share this adventure with those around them. Two friends of theirs showed particular interest, and as summer turned into fall, the four new adventurers returned to the same worn-out mill with a sense of wonder, and an undeniable childlike enthusiasm. This was, of course, only the beginning. The four of them were name-less fans; in awe of a piece of their American history that had somehow been squandered.
With the splendor of the Twin Cities laid before them, the fledgling heroes felt like they had won some kind of secret jackpot. The corners of the cities were theirs for the plundering, the extended dark of the winter their avenue to glory. All they could think about was their youthful lust for more. This excitement came to a peak on the winter solstice, when in a snowy urban parking lot, the Municipal Heroes were founded. -
Adventure
For the next two years, the Heroes explored the cities, and the state, all the while trying to challenge themselves as individuals, as adventurers, and as artists in their various mediums. In this time, the adventure was an art-form in and of itself, leading the team to possibly their busiest period of work. As their alter-egos worked through the daylight hours towards graduation and academic success, they spent the nights exploring the city, and searching the streets for new treasure. For Rin and Averna in particular, this period meant incredible lessons in the art of photography.
For these years, they identified mainly with the title of 'Urban Explorers.' Adventures were about being in new and continuously more exciting places, and constantly pushing the boundaries of where they were and weren't supposed to go. These years tested their limits, and even as they continued to surpass them, a natural plateau was inevitable. -
Moving in a new Direction
While the experiences the Heroes had amassed in this time were precious, they were beginning to pull them in multiple directions. On the one hand, the heroes all still felt a great fondness for the spirit of adventure, and felt the need to continue pushing boundaries and challenging themselves. On the other hand, the novelty of exploration for exploration's sake had faded. Where once there had been four fresh faced and eager teenagers, there now stood four busy and very typical adults, separated by space, time and direction.
So, before these new adults were a few possible paths. They could continue their occasional endeavors into the darker parts of the evening, slowly letting their stories of adventure and grandeur fade into the past-tense, shelved for the inevitable reminiscences, or they could challenge their alter-egos to age with them. They could rally, and begin again; creating something very new from something old, that has certainly been done before. -
A New MH
We, The Municipal Heroes, will always be in the business of challenging ourselves artistically, physically, and mentally. However, now at the start of the new decade, we want to challenge you too. We want to tell you a story of something real, and something make believe, and not necessarily tell you which is which. We want to show you the landscape of a world you know, and dare you to believe you've never seen it before in your life. -
Rin
Back in the day, when Gahein and I entered our first building, a derelict and broken down mill, I signed a personal dedication with my actions. Although it would be some time after this trip was over that the Municipal Heroes were formed, I assigned myself to look after this holy union of artists and explorers with my life.
How appropriate that the christening adventure of our title ship was within the walls of one of my favorite places on earth. (Island Station, the never born again coal fired power plant) My faith in The Municipal Heroes lies in the fact that I can trust the character, judgment, and decisions of each and every one of my teammates.
Under pressured circumstances, Gahein and I can laugh about it together.
When facing a challenge, Averna will persist until we succeed.
And when perspective is at its greatest need, Thalia lends her keen reflection.
This group has remained an important driving force in my life, and our continuing strides towards artistic and exploratory spirit under this heading allow a sense of purpose like no other.
Seriousness aside, we enjoy all that urban exploration has to offer, and revel in the act of exposure with the world. Following an adventure that leaves our mental, physical and legal health intact, the rising tide of emotions is brisk, yet entirely wonderful, and worth repeat.
I can't be sure where the Municipal Heroes will be in the years to come, but hopefully some form of inspiration will tend the next generation of adventurers, and cultivate a respectful environment for one of the greatest places in the nation to explore.
~Sincerely David Rin -
Averna
Ever since the 'formal' foundation of the Heroes, the idea of exploration has acted as a sort of magnet in my life, pulling in different aspects of already present personality traits and tying them together. Igniting a new interest in photography? Check. Pulling all my interest in archaeology out of the depths of my childhood? Check. Creating a full-blown rail enthusiast out of the little girl who once 'liked' trains? Check.
Exploration presents you with the opportunity to challenge yourself, both mentally and physically. Rather quickly, your mind begins regarding the idea of 'cannot' much differently. You will see new opportunities and take new chances. I, for example, have somehow ended up in Missoula, Montana, studying Archaeology and learning to live somewhere that isn't home. You really don't need to be hopping fences to be seeing new things and exploring.
I suppose I also need to take a moment to issue my token disclaimer. Urban Exploration is a 'terribly' dangerous and legally 'questionable' activity, and in the end, you will always be responsible for the risks that you choose to take. Of course, you always stand to gain something with a bit of risk - it's the nature of the thing. Let's face it, if exploring was a sure-fire way to get yourself arrested or killed (or somehow both) there would be a lot less of it on the internet.
- Averna -
Gahein
Hey there, I'm Gahein and I'm sort of the ghost of the group. Mostly because all of the work I do is put into the places you might not normally look. I've crafted this whole website from scratch, and I'm also the one who writes the majority of the copy, such as the stuff you read on the front page. But, I will admit, I've tried my hand at just about every medium imaginable. Perhaps I will post some up here eventually.
As it is, though, I am a writer. I have just recently begun working on a project with my alter-ego called "Art Is Our World." Its goal, I believe, coincides quite nicely with the goals of Municipal Heroes. Each project encourages people to look at the world through the lens of an artist, MH simply points that lens at the decrepit, broken, and abandoned pieces of society. The result is a culmination of creative talent and ideas that both Rin and I plan to bring out into the world over the course of the next few years.
But enough about dreams, I'm still the little guy with the tough-guy attitude. I'm also the guy who believes in ghosts, so, in a way, I guess it makes sense that I named myself after one. As a kid, I believed in a ghost that lived in my house called "Gaahein" that would protect me from the monsters under the bed. In a sense, I suppose a part of that still stands true today. The monsters have just come out from under the bed. -
Thalia
Thalia speaking! You probably won't be seeing my name under any photos: I'm the camera-illiterate Hero. I've got a malfunctioning point-and-shoot that may or may not cooperate on any given trip, but I'm better with words than lighting or camera technique. I try to focus on taking pictures I'll use later when I'm writing.
Art, in any medium, has a special place in my heart. It's how the four of us met and how the Municipal Heroes came into existence. I've always had the opinion that art should make people think. That's one of my goals as a writer, to make people reconsider their values and beliefs. To that end, my favorite stories to write are what-ifs and could've-beens and might-still-bes.
If there's one thing being an explorer has taught me, it's that no challenge exists that can't be met and that a life without challenges isn't worth living. That philosophy helped me overcome a failed first year of college that left me in a very dark place, so that I'm now back in school in Minneapolis, working part-time, and exploring with my fellow Heroes whenever the opportunity arises.