LARGEST- Barn in Kansas - Cooper Barn, Colby, KS
N 39° 22.148 W 101° 02.610
14S E 323965 N 4359732
The Cooper Barn is the Largest Barn in Kansas. It measures 66 feet wide, 114 feet long, and 48 feet tall. It was moved in one piece to the Prairie Museum in 1992.
Waymark Code: WM1A058
Location: Kansas, United States
Date Posted: 05/24/2024
Views: 3
The Cooper Barn was originally built on Foster Farms in Breton, KS, 16 miles northeast of Colby, KS. Harold Mangus, an auditor for the Foster Lumber Company helped with the barn's design. The barn used house siding rather than barn siding because it was more attractive and was good advertising for the Foster Lumber Company.
The Barn was built as a cattle show barn and measures 66 feet wide, 114 feet long, and 48 feet high. For many years the barn housed Foster Farm's prize-winning Hereford cattle. The large loft was used for hay storage. The barn could hold 75 head of cattle. Foster Farms began raising cattle in 1919 with the goal of breeding a herd equal to the best in the world. Foster Farms became nationally recognized as a top Hereford breeder under the management of Doc Mustoe. The cattle won many ribbons and awards across the country. The herd grew to 731 animals.
Foster Farms was also famous for its horses and mules. They maintained 350-400 horses and mules between 1931 and the early 1940's. Clydesdales from Foster Farms were shown at the 1938 American Royal where the Budweiser company bought 6 horses to use in one of their stables.
A Junior Judging school was held annually at Foster Farms to teach boys and girls how to appreciate the best qualities in livestock. This was held for over 25 years.
In 1965, Ben Foster's estate was sold to a partnership called O.C.K Farms, for the last names of the partners- Ostmeyer, Cooper, Keller, and Kruse. The partnership dissolved in 1969. Willard Cooper retained the portion of the farm on which the barn stood, hence the Barn earning the name Cooper Barn.
Colby Community College used the barn for their horse production program in the 1970's. After Willard Cooper passed away in the 1980's the property passed to Gary Cooper and Mary Jo Cooper Pawlus.
The Cooper Barn was moved 16 miles to the Prairie Museum in one piece. This process took several days between May 12-15, 1992, and was quite a sight for locals to behold.
The Cooper Barn now contains exhibits that help to tell the story of over 100 years of agricultural history in Thomas County. The large open loft has been used for dances, meetings, and other gatherings. Every year the Cooper Barn serves as a popular wedding venue.
In 2008, the Cooper Barn was voted one of the Eight Wonders of Kansas Architecture.
You can visit the Cooper Barn 7 days a week at the Prairie Museum which is open 9-5 Mon-Fri or 1-5 Sat & Sun. (Closed Mondays Nov 1st thru March 31st). Admission is required to view the barn up close and to see the interior. The barn can be rented for weddings and other events.
This waymark is being placed in honor of the Thomas County Historical Society's 65th Anniversary. The historical society and museum oversee the preservation of his impressive structure.
This waymark is also part of my Lost series of Geocaches and Waymarks. This represents episode 111 All the Best Cowboys Have Daddy Issues.
For more information about the Cooper Barn or Prairie Museum please visit prairiemuseum.org
Type of documentation of superlative status: Thomas County Historical Society and Prairie Museum documents, Odyssey of The Big Barn book, prairiemuseum.org, https://kansassampler.org/8wondersofkansas-architecture/cooper-barn-colby
Location of coordinates: Just outside the front entrance to the barn.
Web Site: [Web Link]
|
Visit Instructions:
Post one photo of the waymark that is a different view from the one on the page and describe your visit, including the date. Other information that you may regarding the waymark is encouraged. Neither you nor your GPSr need to appear in any photos!