I took this picture on the way home from work yesterday because I simply love these magnificent round barns:
First built by the Shakers in 1824, round barns required less lumber and bracing the frame. Construction was also simplified, as no elaborate scaffolding was required for the circular arched roof. The barns also proved more resilient against prairie storms.
The barns pictured here were built around 1910 and are owned by the University of Illinois.
That's really cool.
Posted by: Scott P | September 30, 2005 at 09:52 PM
Extrordinary. I love the interior shots on the link page. Your pic is better than anything at the link site, though. Those two buildings on the right lower and rear quadrants - are they outbuildings or attached to the barn itself?
Posted by: JWebb | September 30, 2005 at 10:06 PM
Isn't it? Hey Scott - don't know how often (if ever) you get to the intersection of Cave Creek and Cactus... but just South of Cactus Rd on Cave Creek Rd there are (or were a year ago - still standing)3 geodesic domes... the "Hiking Shack" bought them when I was 12. I live there! Those domes were my home! ha haaaaaaaaaa! Kevin (my little brother) and I would spend countless hours carving the weird insulation foam crap that leaked out of every joint in the wall (and in a sphere, there are many joints!)... WOW.
Memories.
Wow.
Posted by: Pie Shell | September 30, 2005 at 10:07 PM
live = lived. No, I no longer live there if it exists, thank god.
Posted by: Pie Shell | September 30, 2005 at 10:09 PM
Never seen them, Shell. I used to have to drive up to Shea Rd. every morning to go to school, but that's about as far north as I got.
Posted by: Scott P | September 30, 2005 at 10:14 PM
Jonathan, I think those structures are attached to the barn.
Posted by: gail | September 30, 2005 at 10:18 PM
Ah. The lightses plays trickses, they do.
Posted by: JWebb | September 30, 2005 at 10:24 PM
'Specially after a few glasses of wine, it does...
Posted by: Scott P | September 30, 2005 at 10:33 PM
I could be mistaken, though. I'll check next time I drive by. I tried taking pictures of the horses in their nearby paddock, but I couldn't get a good focus.
Posted by: gail | September 30, 2005 at 10:42 PM