Why America's Last Smokestacks are Disappearing

When you cruise through some of the biggest cities in the country, there are many structures that populate the skyline, such as skyscrapers, bridges, water towers, or monuments. However, if you were to venture out to the industrial districts, you would see tall yet slender structures spitting smoke into the sky. You might notice these massive industrial cylinders are very similar to the often brick or clay structures connected to a fireplace or stove in your own home, especially if your house is of an older make. But what exactly are these and what purpose do they serve? Smoke stacks and chimneys as they are called, are architectural ventilation designs built to expel gas and smoke high in the air and away from people. Smoke stacks and chimneys have played a vital part in human architecture dating nearly a thousand years but they especially came to prominence on a manufacturing scale during the Industrial Revolution, resulting in several iterations in cities like New York and Chicago. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices