Shelburne in Chittenden County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Round Barn
1901 Fred Quimby East Passumpsic, Vermont
| | Moved to Museum: 1985-1986 | |
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2017
1. Round Barn Marker
The three-story Round Barn was built in 1901 to improve agricultural efficiency on the farm. Hay from the top floor and silage from the central silo dropped through feed chutes to the middle level, where up to sixty cows could be stanchioned around the center for feeding and milking. Manure was shoveled through trap doors to the lower level and collected by horse-drawn wagons. Shakers built the first American round barn in 1826, and the labor-saving design enjoyed a brief period of renewed popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Round Barn's top and middle floors feature the Trailblazers: Horse-Drawn Vehicles and Contemporary Automotive Culture exhibit, which compares horse-drawn vehicles in the Museum's permanent collection with modern modes of transportation.
Erected by the Shelburne Museum.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Architecture. In addition, it is included in the Communal and Utopian Societies series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 44° 22.405′ N, 73° 13.936′ W. Marker is in Shelburne, Vermont,
this page online
Regionally, this marker is in the Champlain Valley and in Greater Burlington. It is also in the American Northeast and in New England. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: An Intentional Landscape (within shouting distance of this marker); Flat World, 2008 (within shouting distance of this marker); Welcome to Shelburne Museum (within shouting distance of this marker); Circus Building & Carousel (within shouting distance of this marker); Beach Gallery (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Beach Lodge (about 300 feet away); Circus Building (about 400 feet away); The Beach Complex (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Shelburne.
Also see . . .
1. Round Barn. (Submitted on November 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.)
2. Rural New England: Architecture in the Round.
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2017
2. Round Barn and Marker
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2017
3. Round Barn
Photographed by William Fischer, Jr., October 8, 2017
4. Round Barn
Credits. This page was last revised on May 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio. This page has been viewed 480 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on November 2, 2017, by William Fischer, Jr. of Reynoldsburg, Ohio.
