Abandoned Arkansas: Michael Schwarz

Michael Schwarz is a documentary filmmaker and co-president of the Abandoned Atlas Foundation, the nonprofit behind Abandoned Arkansas. His work focuses on uncovering the forgotten stories of historic buildings and the communities around them. Through documentaries like Forever Majestic on Hot Springs’ Majestic Hotel and his ongoing series about Pine Bluff’s dramatic decline and potential rebirth, Michael connects audiences to the human side of architectural history. His films have reached millions of viewers on YouTube, sparking conversations about preservation, memory, and what’s at stake when places are left behind.