County of barn: St. Charles County
Location of barn: High St., Mt. Pleasant Winery, Augusta
Built: 1992
Marker erected by: Mount Pleasant Winery
Marker Text:
ROUND BARN
Supposedly representing the ultimate in structural strength efficiency, and "modern" design, almost all round barns were built in Mid-Western America between 1900 and 1910. This classic, split level, octagonal barn was raised in 1992. Being half built into the earth, the design maximizes energy conservation, needing no additional heating in winter nor cooling in summer to protect the wine stored within. The largest wine tank in the building holds 60.000 bottles of wine and had to be set in place before the barn was built around it.