Big Well (Kansas) Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Greensburg Well
U.S. National Register of Historic Places

Former Big Well visitor center before it was destroyed by a tornado in 2007
Location in Kansas Show map of Kansas Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	315 South Sycamore, Greensburg, Kansas
Area	1 acre (0.40 ha)
Built	1887
Architect	Wheeler, J.W.
NRHP reference No.	72000507
Added to NRHP	February 23, 1972

The Big Well is a very large, historic water well located in Greensburg, Kansas, United States. For many years, visitors could pay a small fee to go down an illuminated stairway to the bottom of the well. It's a famous landmark in Kansas.

History of the Big Well
How the Big Well Was Built
The Big Well Visitor Center
- The New Big Well Museum
- The Brenham Meteorite
Gallery
See also

History of the Big Well

Construction on the Big Well started in 1887. It cost $45,000 to build, which was a lot of money back then! The well was finished in 1888. Its main purpose was to provide water for the Santa Fe and Rock Island railroads.

The Big Well supplied water to the entire town of Greensburg until 1932. In 1972, it was named a National Museum. The next year, in 1973, it received an American Water Landmark award. It has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) since 1972. In 2008, the Big Well was even named one of the "8 Wonders of Kansas."

It is often called the world's largest hand-dug well. It is about 109 feet (33 m) deep and 32 feet (9.8 m) wide. However, there are a couple of other wells that are actually larger. For example, the Well of Joseph in Cairo, Egypt, is deeper. Also, St. Patrick's Well in Italy is both deeper and wider.

How the Big Well Was Built

Building the Big Well in 1887 was a huge project. Workers used many clever engineering tricks from that time. Crews of 12 to 15 men worked together. They used simple tools like pickaxes, shovels, ropes, pulleys, and barrels.

The sides of the well were lined with stones. These stones were brought from the Medicine River, about twelve miles south of Greensburg. Wagons were used to haul the stones. Special wagons with slats helped remove the dirt as they dug deeper.

As the well got deeper, wooden planks were used to support the sides. These braces were placed every twelve feet to keep the workers safe. Dirt was hoisted up in barrels using ropes and pulleys. Once the stones were fitted into place, the wooden braces were carefully sawed off. When the well reached its full depth of about 109 feet, special pipes were added. These pipes helped bring water from the surrounding gravel into the well's basin.

The Big Well Visitor Center

The Big Well used to have a visitor center. It told the story of how the well was built. But on May 4, 2007, a very powerful tornado hit Greensburg. This tornado destroyed the visitor center. The Big Well reopened to visitors on May 26, 2012, with a brand new building.

The New Big Well Museum

The new visitor center is called the Big Well Museum. Inside, you can see a circular timeline of Greensburg's history. It shows how the town began, what happened during the tornado, and how the town rebuilt itself in an eco-friendly way.

The museum also teaches you about tornadoes. It explains how these powerful storms form. There are many interactive exhibits. You can find pull-out displays, televisions, and infographics. These show historical events, interviews, and even model survival kits. The museum also displays items found after the tornado. These include stop signs, street signs, and parts of old tornado sirens. One display even has the remains of Greensburg's old siren, which was destroyed by the tornado.

The Brenham Meteorite

The visitor center also displays a special meteorite. It's a half-ton (about 1,000 pounds or 450 kg) pallasite meteorite. This type of meteorite has shiny crystals mixed in with metal. It was found in the area around Greensburg.

For a while, people thought it was the world's largest single-piece pallasite. However, other larger pallasite pieces have been found. When the tornado hit in 2007, the meteorite was missing. It was insured for $1 million! Luckily, it was later found underneath a collapsed wall. It was temporarily displayed at a museum in Hays, Kansas. Now, it has returned to the rebuilt Big Well Museum for everyone to see.