One Of The Only 16-Sided Barns In The U.S. Is In Virginia

If you grew up in Virginia, chances are you ventured to Mount Vernon, the home of George Washington. Revisiting this historic landmark as an adult proves to be an important and educational experience, as you’ll have the opportunity to learn about the nuances of Washington’s life. Venture outside the main house and you’ll discover where the enslaved people and workers lived, in meager conditions with sparse furnishings. Mount Vernon would not have survived without the labor of these enslaved workers. In addition to the Slave Cabin replica, visitors can see another structure built with the help of enslaved carpenters, the 16-Sided Barn. Today, you can admire the craftsmanship and uniqueness of the exact replica of what stood as one of the few 16-sided barns in the U.S.

By 1792, the Mount Vernon Estate encompassed nearly 8,000 acres and five working farms. During this time, George Washington was planning to build a new structure that would allow for grain processing and storage.

The 16-Sided Barn is the result of that effort, although what you'll see today is actually a replica and not the original building. Even so, it's fascinating to see what appears to be a circular building from far away but actually has 16 unique sides.

The 16-Sided Barn allowed a circular interior for the horses, which were used to separate grain from the stalk by treading.

Historians aren't exactly sure why there are sixteen sides to the barn's exterior rather than eight. Thomas Green was the carpenter that oversaw the building of the barn, which was completed by the enslaved carpenters.

Washington was in Philadelphia serving as President during the construction of the barn but sent many letters outlining the specifics of the building process. He was even able to estimate the exact number of bricks that would be needed for the first floor: 30,820!

When you visit the Pioneer Farm today, you'll be impressed by the 16-Sided Barn, an exact replica of the original, as well as the work and time put into its creation.

When was the last time you visited Mount Vernon? What did you think of your experience there? For more information, you can visit the official Mount Vernon website to plan your trip.

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One Of The Only 16-Sided Barns In The U.S. Is Right Here In Virginia

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