OSU Buildings Histories in the Special Collections and Archives Research Center

Built in 1889, the College's first barn was this octagonal structure. At its construction, the barn included feeding stalls, a silo, root house, and storage room for hay and grain. In 1892, a nearly 2,000 square foot addition was built, complete with two silos with a combined feed capacity of one hundred and twenty tons.

The octagonal barn served as the heart of the College's 180-acre farm until 1909, when construction of a new barn was completed. In later years, the Octagonal Barn served the College as a horse barn until it burned in September 1924. The barn was located approximately where Gilmore Hall is today.

SCARC: SCARC's holdings include personal papers and photographs documenting the history of OSU's first barn.

Oregon Digital: Includes images and textual materials documenting the history of OSU's first barn.