Wilhelm Pelster House-Barn, German heritage house-barn in Franklin County, Missouri.
The Wilhelm Pelster House-Barn combines residential space and agricultural facilities across four interior levels, measuring about 60 feet (18 meters) wide and 53 feet (16 meters) deep. The structure was built using Fachwerk timber-frame techniques and later covered with wooden siding.
Wilhelm Pelster, a German immigrant, constructed this building between 1860 and 1864 using building styles from his homeland. It represents the German settlement wave that shaped Franklin County and later became known as the Missouri Rhineland.
This building shows how German immigrants designed their homes and organized daily life between living space and farm work. The architecture reflects traditions that these communities brought from their homeland.
The site sits on a 38-acre property and provides insight into pioneer architecture and daily life. Visitors should be prepared for uneven terrain and the historic building structure, as access to some older sections may be limited.
A central hallway called a Diele connects multiple levels and hides the traditional timber-frame structure behind wooden siding added later. This design allowed early residents to manage both home and farm functions under a single roof.
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