San Luis Obispo Octagon Barn facts for kids

The Pereira Octagon Barn in San Luis Obispo, California, is a really special building with a long history. It was built way back in 1906 by three men: Henri LaFranchi, John Damaso, and a milk farmer whose name we don't know. Since there weren't other barns shaped like an octagon nearby, they probably got their ideas from farm magazines or catalogs.

The first person to use the barn was Antonio Stornetta, who ran his Santa Fe Dairy there until 1917. Later, in 1920, the Pereira family bought the property. They were part of a group of Portuguese Americans who often worked in the dairy business, just like the Italian-Swiss immigrants before them. The Pereira family called their business the Home Dairy. They even had a plant in the city where they pasteurized and bottled milk, delivering it every day around San Luis Obispo.

Dairy farming continued at the barn until the 1950s. After that, it became harder for small dairies to make enough money. So, the barn was used for raising cattle and growing some crops. In 1994, the Hayashi family bought the property. A few years later, they made a deal with the Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County. This group has been working to fix up the barn, and now it's becoming a cool place for the community to gather.

This is the barn after it was fixed up in late 2008.

The Octagon Barn is huge, about 5,000 square feet! It's made from strong redwood wood and has a brand new redwood roof. On top, there's a special part called a cupola that reaches over 40 feet high. Next to the main barn, there's also a Milking Parlor (built in 1938) and a Calf Barn.

Looking up at the cupola from inside the barn.

Why the Octagon Barn is Special

The Octagon Barn is important for a few big reasons:

Its History and Culture

Even today, farming is a big part of the San Luis Obispo County economy. Over 100 years ago, when the barn was built, dairy farming was super important. This barn shows us what dairy farms were like back then, especially in areas like Edna and Los Osos Valley.

Its Unique Architecture

The octagon shape of the barn was actually really smart for a dairy farm. A round shape uses less building material than a square one, and an octagon is close to a circle. The barn is also a well-known landmark that you can easily see from Highway 101 as you enter San Luis Obispo from the south.

Fun for Recreation and Learning

The Octagon Barn is the official starting point for the Bob Jones City-to-Sea Bicycle Trail. This trail is a great place to ride your bike between San Luis Obispo and Avila Beach. The barn center will also be a place where people can learn about local history, farming, renewable energy, and how to protect nature.

Being a National Historic Landmark

In December 2013, the Pereira Octagon Barn was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a big deal! It means the barn is considered very important to its community, state, or even the whole country. This famous local landmark is one of only two octagon barns left in California. It really shows the area's farming past. The National Register is managed by the National Park Service, which is part of the U.S. government.

Bringing the Barn Back to Life

Work to fix up the barn started in 1997 because it was almost falling apart. The main structure has been made strong again. Now, the focus is on making the barn a fully approved place for the community to use.

The Octagon Barn Center will be a community gathering place for everyone. It will help people learn about local history, farming, outdoor activities, and living in a way that protects the environment. They plan to host all sorts of events there, like fundraisers, dances, movie nights, music shows, weddings, family reunions, and festivals. There are also plans for a windmill, a small restored wetland area, solar power, parking for over 100 cars, and lots of new trees and plants.

You can find the San Luis Obispo Octagon Barn Center at 4400 Octagon Way, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401.

• Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County - Official Website for the Octagon Barn Center: http://www.octagonbarn.org
• Featured by Huell Howser Productions California Gold - Episode #5012 Barns
• Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County - Bob Jones City to Sea Trail Page