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Short Abstract

Factory smokestacks are often seen as the material remains of work history and local identity, or parts of dangerous urban wasteland. In our project Smokestack memories, we asked citizens to use an online map for sharing their photos and memories of smokestacks.

Abstract

Factory smokestacks are often seen as an ambivalent part of cultural heritage. They have been demolished on the grounds of safety risks and urban development. On the other hand, they can be important monuments to local working history and the local identity tied to it. In our project Smokestack Memories (2021-2023), we collected photos and memories related to factory smokestacks using an online map. People were able to add map points and comment on each other's points. The map served as research material, and a database and discussion platform for those interested in the topic. In our study, we use the map to examine the meanings people attach to factory smokestacks. The map allows us to access not only work-related memories, which are often the focus of interviews, but also memories related to personal history, such as childhood, or more random encounters with smokestacks.