A photographer stumbled upon an abandoned doctor's house dating back to the 1800s — take a look at his haunting pictures

Sansivero said he doesn't like to share the exact location of the house because he wants to protect the structure from looting and vandalism. But he did say that the house is located in northern Virginia in a town that has a lot of abandoned houses.

"I couldn't believe how big it was and how amazing the architecture was," he told Insider. "I was a little hesitant to go inside but also excited."

Sansivero said seeing the wolf rug was "unbelievable."

"I always say that I love exploring the unknown," he said. "[I love] not knowing what's around the next corner, like a giant taxidermy wolf rug."

Hats were still hanging from the back of chairs as if someone left them there casually one day. Clothes still hung in the closets as if whoever lived here left in a hurry.

Sansivero said he believes others beat him to the home and looted some objects.

Before entering the rooms, Sansivero took note of the blankets that were thrown over the banister and the chairs that sat idly in the hallway.

The fireplace mantel is filled with pictures.

"With most abandoned houses, there is no family or heirs to claim the property," Sansivero said. "It falls into disrepair, belongings, and all."

"It's hard to tell how far back the house dates because the architecture is very unique," Sansivero said. "If I had to guess I would say mid 19th century. It may be older than that though."

Dresser drawers were scattered on the floor, dumped of anything that was once inside.

The bed was still made when Sansivero captured this image.

"The photographs in the house are definitely relatives of or pictures of the owners themselves," Sansivero said. "I'm not completely sure when the house was abandoned but clearly some photographs are newer than others. Certain clues such as these can help to figure out when the house may have been lived in last and how far back descendants go."

A home phone hangs from a wall where the paint is peeling away.

The residence is a blend of old and new.

A plant is growing inside the house as nature reclaims the structure.

This room seemed to be a library of sorts, even though some of the shelves were empty.

Here, there was another rug made from a wolf and a door that led to an office hallway.

"It's strange to find a home and doctor's office in one house," he said.

"This part was very eerie because the examination rooms were dark," he said. "But I thought there must be some really unusual stuff lying around to photograph."

The medical wing of the house was even better preserved than the residential portion.

Sanvierno calls it "the mad doctor's office."

These bottles of medicine were once used as sedatives, to treat blood pressure, and to alleviate headaches.

Although much of the house is shrouded in mystery, Sansivero said that is actually what he hoped to capture in his photographs.

"If a photograph leaves you wanting to see more, or asking yourself these questions, then I feel like I succeeded as a photographer," he said.

"I realized that I should be documenting all of this history that is being left to sit and decay before it's gone forever," he said.

• Read more:
• I toured two Ellis Island hospitals that have been abandoned for almost 65 years. Here's what they're like inside.
• Take a look inside the famously creepy Winchester House, which has 160 rooms, staircases that lead to nowhere, and doors that open into walls
• Built in 1829 and abandoned since the '70s, Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary is one of the creepiest places in America. Here's what it's like inside.