List of windmills in the United States facts for kids

This page lists "traditional" windmills in the United States. These are usually gristmills, which grind grain into flour.

Sometimes, people call other things "windmills" too. For example, a "windpump" uses wind to bring up water for farms. Companies like Eclipse Windmill Company (started 1873) and Aermotor Windmill Company (started 1888) made many of these. Aermotor is the only original US "windmill" maker still around today! People also use "windmill" to talk about modern wind turbines that make electricity.

This list mainly focuses on the old-style windmills. However, it also includes some historic windpumps that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), like the "Iron Turbine Windmill" in Arizona.

You can see many of these windmills on a map! Just click on "Map all coordinates using OpenSourceMap" on the right side of this page.

Windmills in Arizona

The Iron Turbine Mill

The Iron Turbine mill is a special kind of windpump. It's located in Prescott and was built in 1876. This old windpump is a historic landmark.

The historic Iron Turbine Windmill in Prescott, Arizona.

Windmills in California

California has some famous windmills, especially in San Francisco.

San Francisco's Historic Windmills

• The Murphy Windmill in San Francisco is a smock mill, built in 1905. It even appeared in an old movie called A Jitney Elopement with Charlie Chaplin!

The Murphy Windmill in San Francisco.

• The Dutch Windmill, also in San Francisco, is a tower mill. It was built earlier, in 1902.

The Dutch Windmill in Golden Gate Park.

Solvang's Smock Mill

• In Solvang, you can find another smock mill. This town is known for its Danish-style buildings, and the windmill fits right in!

A smock mill in Solvang, California.

Windmills in Iowa

Iowa is home to some unique windmills, including one that traveled all the way from Denmark!

The Danish Mill in Elk Horn

The Danish Mill in Elk Horn is a smock mill. What's amazing is that it was first built in 1848 in Denmark! It was taken apart in 1975 and then put back together in Elk Horn in 1976. It's a true piece of history that moved across the ocean!

The Danish Mill in Elk Horn, Iowa.

The Vermeer Mill in Pella

The Vermeer Mill is located in the Pella Historical Village in Pella. This smock mill is newer, built in 2002.

The Vermeer Mill in Pella, Iowa.

Windmills in Kansas

Kansas has a few windmills, some of which have been moved over time.

The Old Dutch Mill in Smith Center

An old smock mill was built in Reamsville in 1879. Later, in 1938, it was moved to Smith Center and became known as the Old Dutch Mill.

The Old Dutch Mill in Wamego

Another Old Dutch Mill is found in Wamego. This one is a tower mill and was built in 1925. Interestingly, it was originally built near Wamego in 1879 as a tower mill, then taken apart in 1925 and rebuilt in Wamego.

Windmills in Maine

The Bailey Farm Mill

The Bailey Farm mill is located in Anson. It was built in 1905.

The Bailey Farm Windmill in Anson, Maine.

Castine's Windmills

• Hatch's Mill in Castine was built around 1800 and then again in 1815.
• There's also a windmill at 12 Madockawando Rd. in Castine. This "antique windmill folly" was built over a century ago as a piano studio!

Windmills in Michigan

Michigan has two very old and interesting windmills, one from Massachusetts and one from the Netherlands!

The Greenfield Mill

The Greenfield Mill is in Dearborn. This smock mill is incredibly old, originally built in 1660 in Massachusetts! It was later moved to Greenfield Village in Dearborn.

The Greenfield Mill, originally from Massachusetts.

De Zwaan

De Zwaan is a beautiful smock mill located in Holland. It was first built in 1761 in the Netherlands and then brought to Michigan.

De Zwaan windmill in Holland, Michigan.

Windmills in Minnesota

The Seppman Mill

The Seppman Mill is a tower mill located in Minneopa State Park, near Mankato. It was built in 1864.

The Seppman Mill in Minneopa State Park.

Windmills in Missouri

The Bevo Mill

The Bevo Mill in St. Louis is a smock mill. It's known for its unique design.

The Bevo Mill Restaurant in St. Louis.

Windmills in New Jersey

The Volendam Mill

The Volendam Mill in Holland Township is a smock mill. It was built in 1965.

The Volendam Windmill in Holland Township.

The Great Western Mill

The Great Western Mill was a smock mill built in 1806. It had an interesting journey, being shipped from England, built in Brooklyn Heights, moved to Paulus Hook in 1812, then to Southold in 1839, before it unfortunately burned down in 1870.

The Great Western Windmill.

Windmills in South Dakota

The Holland Grist Windmill

The Holland Grist Windmill in Milbank is a smock mill. It was built in 1882.

The Holland Grist Windmill in Milbank, South Dakota.

Windmills in Texas

Texas has a few notable windmills, including a grist mill and a windpump.

The Canon Ranch Railroad Eclipse Windmill

The Canon Ranch Railroad Eclipse Windmill in Sheffield is an iron windpump. It was built in 1898.

The Victoria Grist Windmill

The Victoria Grist Windmill in Victoria is a smock mill. It was built in 1870 and is a grist mill, meaning it grinds grain.

The Victoria Grist Windmill in Texas.

Windmills in Virginia

Virginia has some very old windmills, including reconstructions of historical ones.

Flowerdew Hundred Mills

• The Flowerdew Hundred Mill at Flowerdew Hundred was first built in 1612.
• A newer Flowerdew Hundred Mill (a post mill) was built as a reconstruction in 1978.

Robertson Mills

• The Robertson Mill in Williamsburg was a post mill built in 1621. It was still standing in 1723.
• There is also a replica of the Robertson Mill in Williamsburg.

Yorktown Windmills

• Buckner's Mill in Yorktown was a smock mill built in 1711. It was destroyed by a tornado in the late 1800s.
• Akers′ Mill in Yorktown is a reconstruction of William Buckner's Mill, built in 2011 near the original site.

Windmills in Wisconsin

Wisconsin features several interesting windmills, including some with unique designs.

The Davidson Windmill

The Davidson Windmill in Superior is a smock mill. Built in 1900, it's special because it has eight sails!

The Little Chute Windmill

The Little Chute Windmill in Little Chute is another smock mill. It was built by a company called Verbij Hoogmade BV.

The Waupun Dutch Windmill

The Waupun Dutch Windmill in Waupun is also a smock mill.

Other Wisconsin Windmills

• The Windmill at Robert M. Lamp Cottage near Lake Mendota, Madison, was built between 1902 and 1903. It was designed to pump water to a cottage on an island, which was designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

Windmills in US Insular Areas

Puerto Rico

Ingenio Azucarero Vives

The Ingenio Azucarero Vives in Guayama is a tower mill. This Spanish colonial sugar mill was built in 1828.

The Ingenio Azucarero Vives in Puerto Rico.

See also

• List of windmills
• Wind power in Rhode Island