• The setting sun over the Flint Hills casts shadows across the wide expanse of tallgrass prairie.

    Tallgrass Prairie

    National Preserve Kansas

  • Caution - Construction Zone

    Please use caution and follow signs as you enter the parking lot. Construction is nearly complete on the visitor center and restrooms. Please call 620-273-8494, 6034, or 7034 for most recent information.

  • We Are Relocating

    The preserve staff is in the process of relocating and previous phone numbers may not function. Please call 620-273-8494, 6034, or 7034 to reach the preserve. Contact station hours are from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Thank you for your patience.

Virtual Tour Limestone Barn

Historic ranch circa 1900

Historic ranch circa 1900, W.H. Jackson

"A large stone barn and stable is in process of erection, but when the improvements and buildings contemplated by this gentleman are completed...." (Strong City Independent, October 15, 1881)

"It will take 5,000 pounds of tin to cover the mammoth barn of S.F. Jones on Fox Creek, and the tinners are laying it on." (Strong City Independent, December 24, 1881)


This massive barn measures 110 feet wide and 60 feet deep. The bottom level is built into the side of a south sloping hill, the second level even with the top of the hill, and the third story rises above.

 
barn built in 1882

View of the historic barn

The roof is a modified gable (wall area perpendicular to the roof ridge) covered with shingles. The window openings are rectangular with flat smoothed lintels (beams over a doorway) and sills. The barn doors are simple, shallow arched lintels. The limestone is rubble stone masonry with smooth quoin blocks at the corners.  

Did You Know?

Spring Hill Ranch at the Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve

Stephen F. Jones spent the modern equivalent of about $1.9 million building the Spring Hill Ranch complex including the stone fences, but only owned the property for 10 years and occupied the limestone ranch house for 5 1/2 years.  Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve