Pete French Round Barn

The Pete French Round Barn is a circular building with a diameter of 100 feet, supported by 29 peeled juniper poles and topped with a cone-shaped roof above a stone perimeter wall. Inside, a circular stone wall encloses a central stable area, with an outer covered track running around it for horse exercise.

The barn was built in the 1880s by Peter French to train horses for his large cattle operation. It became part of one of the biggest ranches in the western region during that era.

The barn shows how American building ideas met Mexican vaquero traditions in the design of the interior space. Visitors can observe how these different practices came together to solve the problem of training horses year-round.

The site is located roughly 50 miles southeast of Burns and can be reached by car. Oregon Parks and Recreation Department maintains the property and welcomes visitors to explore the historic structure.

The circular design was an uncommon solution for the time, allowing horses to be trained in a covered space regardless of weather conditions. This type of layout was rare for large ranches in that era.

Location: Harney County

GPS coordinates: 43.13258,-118.64256

Latest update: December 11, 2025 11:07