It’s big, red and round and one of Oklahoma’s iconic landmarks. It’s a barn, or at least it used to be. Located on historic Route 66, the Arcadia Round Barn captures the attention of curious passersby, beckoning them to stop and discover more about the interesting structure that seems right at home in the small, rural town.
Local farmer William Harrison Odor built the barn in 1898, and like others he was concerned about tornadoes. Many believed round structures were cyclone proof, so he embraced the idea and hoped that a tornado would sweep around his circular barn not through it.
Odor, his brother-in-law J. Henan Keely and a crew of farmhands built the barn using native burr oak for the framework. For the curved roof rafters, green 2x4s were soaked in the river, then shaped and dried.
Creativity often came into play. It was 43 feet from the floor to the highest point in the roof, so a sturdy ladder was built to reach that high. An often-repeated story is that Odor was the only one willing to climb the ladder to secure the first two rafters together where the dome peaked.
During construction, a few workers recognized the potential for the spacious loft and a way to show it off to the public. They suggested a smooth hardwood floor instead of the planned plank flooring and offered to pay the price difference. In return, they wanted to schedule three dances there. Odor agreed but insisted only good music be played. Future Oklahoma governor Martin Trapp was one of the musicians who played at the first dance.
The barn originally was painted white and its exterior often touted advertising. When it became red isn’t documented.
In 1902 when the Missouri, Kansas and Texas railroad cut across Odor’s land just south of his barn, he began to envision future growth in the area. He and two other men laid out plans for a town that would be named Arcadia.
Barn ownership changed in 1946 with use primarily for hay storage and a workshop. For easier loading and unloading from the trucks, a huge door was cut on one portion of the barn and part of the loft was removed, causing the structure to weaken, twist and lean.
In 1977, the barn was placed on the National Register of Historic Places, but its condition continued to deteriorate. It was rescued by Luke Robison, a retired carpenter and builder who helped form the Arcadia Historical Preservation Society. The barn was donated to the Society in 1988, but the roof caved in soon after work had begun.
Disappointed but not deterred, Robison and a group of volunteers set about restoring the barn using original or matching materials and methods when possible. He attached the first rafters to the top, just as Odor had done, and rebuilt the loft floor stunningly similar to the original.
Perhaps a testament to its original builder, only one beam has been replaced in 126 years. The restored round barn was officially dedicated on April 4, 1992.
Thousands of Route 66 travelers, many from other countries, pass through Arcadia, often stopping for a closer look at the tall, roadside wonder that measures 60 feet in diameter.
The ground level offers gifts, exhibits and a wall of stories and pictures about the barn’s history. The loft is open to the public and available for live music and special events. About 2,000 people visit monthly, their interest first piqued by the barn’s shape and later by its history.
