Oxon Cove Park and Oxon Hill Farm
Buildings and Structures at Oxon Hill Farm

You can use the map on the farm brochure (available at the Visitor Barn) to locate the buildings.

Dairy Barn - The dairy barn provides shelter for the cattle from both heat and cold. Winter cow milking demonstrations are available here by reservation only. It also serves as storage for hay and straw.

Silo - The silo, next to the dairy barn, is a masonry cylinder used for storage of silage (fermented chopped corn and stalks) that is fed to cattle during winter months.

Sheep and goat pen and pasture - The sheep and goat pen and pasture are to your left as you enter the farm. Sheep and goats are excellent for grazing on steep and rocky land because they maneuver better and utilize sparser vegetation more efficiently than larger stock (cows, horses, etc.). Goats and sheep also do a good job of cleaning out the heavy undergrowth in the adjoining woodland.

Hay Barn - The hay barn is used for storage of hay and straw. Bales of hay, a dried forage crop used as animal feed, especially in wintertime, are stored in the hay barn. Straw, the stalk of grain plants is used for animal bedding. One side of the barn is used for activity programs, when not needed for hay storage.

Visitor Barn - Visitor information and exhibits. Various farm activities and demonstrations during bad weather are held in the visitor barn.

Grain Exhibit Building - This exhibit explores grains, the most important food energy source for the world population. Corn (maize), wheat, and sorghum are grown at Oxon Hill Farm. Other grains are rice, barley, oats, rye and millet. Grains have their roots of cultivation dating from about 10,000 years ago and make up the foundation of the "Food Guide Pyramid." This food group contains foods we like such as cereal, bread, and pasta, and provides feed for farm animals.

Hexagonal building - Surrounded by a 100-year-old- stand of American boxwood, the hexagonal building is currently used for garden tools. It may have originally served as a brooder room for newly hatched chickens.

Windmill - The windmill provides power for a water pump located above a well. Water is pumped to a storage tank or trough from which animals can drink. At present, the windmill is only for display purposes.

Horse stable - The stable was built in 1890 and is one of the original farm structures. Hay and straw are stored in the top of the stable. The lower section is divided into stalls which provide individual shelter for each horse.

Corn crib , tack and feed rooms - The west end of the building, the corn crib, is open with wide spaces between the boards. Ears of corn are stored here where they will remain dry until fed to livestock. The tack room is where the farmer keeps the harnesses and horse-grooming equipment. The feed room is the area set aside for storage of animal feeds: grains, minerals, and sweeteners that have been ground and mixed.

Pig pen - At the turn of the century, most farmers would pasture their pigs in a rough, brushy, partly wooded area, much like our goat pasture. Today, in order to keep the pigs in easy public view and avoid the erosion that results from inevitable overgrazing and rooting of accessible pastures, the pigs are kept in this smaller penned area.

Farm house - The white house at the top of the hill served as a dormitory for the St. Elizabeth's patients who worked at the farm from 1891 to the mid 1950s. The house now serves as offices and exhibits. The house was built in the early 1800s and was placed at the top of the hill to be cooled by the constant breezes from the Potomac River.

Chicken coop - The chicken coop provides shelter for the fowl as well as a yard in which to exercise. There is a small separate area for brooding hens next to the coop.

Farm Museum - There you can see old farm equipment, tools and machinery.

Root cellar - The root cellar provided a naturally cooled food stroage for potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and turnips; and was often dug into a hill or rise near the house.

For more information about Oxon Hill Farm, select from these links:

HOME	Your Visit	Things you need to know	Directions	Programs
Self Guided Tour	Reservations	Cow Milking	Wagon Ride	Educational
Chicken Program	Glossary	Visitor Barn	History	Brief History
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