Bird Octagonal Mule Barn Explained

Bird Octagonal Mule Barn
Coordinates:38.2878°N -85.1272°W
Built:c.1880
Added:December 27, 1988
Area:1.6acres
Mpsub:Shelby County MRA
Refnum:88002858

The Bird Octagonal Mule Barn, in Shelby County near Cropper, Kentucky, was built in about 1880. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

It once housed 40 mules. They were fed from a bin in the center.

It was deemed "a unique example of one type of specialized stock barns associated with agricultural diversification in the late 19th c. It is the only recorded octagonal barn and one of few mule barns to be identified in the county."[1]

The Bird's Nest (Shelby County, Kentucky), across Cropper Road, is also listed on the National Register. It was a large Greek Revival style house of Philomen Bird, Henry Bird's father.[2] Philomen gave 100acres to each of his children.[1]

Its listing followed a 1986-87 study of the historic resources of Shelby County.[3]

The barn is on private property with "No trespassing" signage.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: [{{NRHP url|id=88002858}} Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Bird Octagonal Mule Barn / Birdland Farm ]. National Park Service. C. Worsham . April 1986 . November 26, 2017. With .
  2. Web site: Kentucky Historic Resources Inventory: Bird's Nest . NARA. C. Worsham . March 1986 . August 20, 2022. Includes four photos.
  3. none. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Historic Resources of Shelby County outside Shelbyville . . Gibson Worsham . Charlotte Worsham . Christine Amos . January 1987 . August 20, 2022 . (417 pages.)