Barn at Oxford Horse Ranch facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Barn at Oxford Horse Ranch
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Oxford Horse Barn in 1986
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 Location in Wyoming
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| Nearest city | Laramie, Wyoming |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1887 |
| NRHP reference No. | 86001398 |
The Oxford Horse Barn was built way back in 1887. You can find it near Laramie, Wyoming, in Albany County, Wyoming. It is one of the oldest and biggest barns still standing in Albany County. This barn is a great example of vernacular architecture. This means it was built using local styles and materials, influenced by English cattle and horse ranchers who moved to the American West. Because of its history and unique style, it is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes important places that should be protected.
Contents
A Look Back at the Oxford Horse Ranch
The Oxford horse ranch was one of the first big ranches in the area. It was started in the 1870s by a man named Pete Johnson. Later, two Scottish gentlemen, Mr. Whitehouse and Mr. Stokes, bought the ranch.
Breeding Famous Horses
Under their ownership, the ranch became famous around the world. They were known for breeding special, high-quality horses. At times, they had as many as 3,000 horses! The Oxford Horse Barn shows how the English tradition of breeding thoroughbred horses came to the Rocky Mountains and Wyoming.
Axel Palmer's Role
The barn also played an important part in local history. It is especially linked to Axel Palmer. He worked at the ranch and later became a part-owner. Palmer was a horse trainer. He used the barn's upper level, called the loft, like an obstacle course. This helped him train horse teams.
How the Oxford Horse Barn Was Built
The Oxford Horse Barn is a huge building made of logs. It is about 158 feet long and 50 feet wide. That's longer than three school buses!
Unique Design Features
One special feature is a dirt ramp at the back. This ramp allowed wagons to drive right up to the loft level. The barn also has a very balanced and even design. This means both sides look almost exactly the same.
Building Materials and Style
The barn sits on a strong foundation made of sandstone. It is built with squared logs laid horizontally. These logs are fitted into vertical posts every 17 feet. This divides the long side of the barn into nine equal sections. This building method is often called "piece sur piece" in North America.
The barn has large sliding doors at ground level. These doors still have their original metal parts. You can find them at the ends of the barn and also in the middle and end sections of the long sides. The barn's balanced design shows a building style called "Georgian vernacular." This style was common in England and the eastern U.S. for farm buildings.
