Atlas Obscura · People & society

Rochester, Indiana: Round Barn Capital

Fulton County, Indiana, is known as the Round Barn Capital of the World, preserving a unique agricultural architectural style.

Round barns, popular in the early 20th century, were more material-efficient than rectangular designs, enclosing a larger area with less siding. Land-grant colleges promoted them as the future of farming.

Local developer Charles Vallandingham Kindig was instrumental in building many of Fulton County's 17 round barns starting around 1910. However, their popularity waned with the advent of bulky farm machinery, better suited to rectangular structures.

Recognizing the decline of these structures, the Fulton County Round Barn Museum began a restoration and rehoming initiative in 1989. The round barns are scattered throughout Fulton County, not just at the museum.

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