National Register of Historic Places

Laughlin Round Barn

Castle Rock, Cowlitz County, Washington
Listed
May 14, 1986
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
86001080

About this property

The Laughlin Round Barn near Castle Rock, Washington is a round barn built in 1883. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. The Laughlin Barn is one of fewer than five within the state. According to one scholar of farm structures, the Laughlin Barn is also probably the oldest round barn in Washington State if not in the northwest three state region." The Laughlin Round Barn was contemporary with the national construction of round barns in the United States, beginning in the 1880s and continuing until the 1920s. The round barn was popular for dairy farming. This was a period of experimentation by agricultural colleges and the publication of plans in farm journals. The advantages claimed were an economy of materials and a "greater efficiency in feeding and maintaining animals.” Eventually, as labor became more expensive and farms increased in size, round forms ceased to be advantageous economically and the construction of round barns became less frequent. Only seven round barns have been identified between 1880 and 1920 in Washington. Only four remained in 1986. Additionally, nine or ten polygonal barns were constructed in Washington, of which six or seven are known to be standing. Constructed about 1882, the Laughlin barn was unusually early in the era of round barns. The round barns in eastern and central Washington were constructed between 1915 and 1925. In the southwestern part of the state, a polygonal and two other round barns were constructed. A polygonal barn in neighboring Wahkiakum County was constructed as early as the 1880s. Another round barn in Wahkiakum County, with a large onion-domed dairy barn constructed about 1915, has fallen within the last two years.

Location

8249 Barnes Dr.
Castle Rock, Cowlitz County, Washington
46.34020, -122.92456

Categories

ARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Laughlin Round Barn

This page lists Laughlin Round Barn. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Laughlin Round Barn report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Olsen, Ben, House
Industrial
4.2 mi
Grace Evangelical Church of Vader
Industrial
4.5 mi
Berwind-Purcell House
Industrial
11.1 mi
Catlin, Adam, House
Industrial
13.4 mi
Smith, Nat, House
Industrial
13.4 mi

Questions about this property

When was Laughlin Round Barn listed on the National Register?

Laughlin Round Barn was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 14, 1986.

What type of historic resource is Laughlin Round Barn?

Laughlin Round Barn is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Laughlin Round Barn?

The period of significance for Laughlin Round Barn is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Laughlin Round Barn?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Laughlin Round Barn will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Cowlitz County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Cowlitz County.

Explore CowlitzCounty ›

More historic places in Washington

Browse all historic places in Washington.

View Washingtonhistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Washington history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Washingtonhistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Laughlin Round Barn will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report