Wheeler-Magnus Round Barn

The Wheeler-Magnus Round Barn is a wooden agricultural structure with a diameter of about 50 feet and a central silo for grain storage. The building displays a circular design that maximizes usable space and arranges work areas efficiently.

The structure was built in 1910 when circular barn designs were becoming popular with farmers throughout the Midwest. This building style was part of a broader movement to improve efficiency and space use in agriculture.

This barn reflects the practical thinking of early farmers who sought better ways to organize their work and livestock care. Visitors can see how its circular shape influenced the daily rhythms and routines of farm life on the property.

The barn is located within a retirement community, so viewing may be from the outside or require arrangement in advance. Checking conditions ahead of your visit ensures you can see it under the best circumstances.

This is the only round barn in Cook County listed in the National Register of Historic Places, making it a rare example of this building style in the region. The wooden original elements have survived over a century.