Working list: Longest grain elevators in the USA

Enormous grain elevators are truly the rural skyscrapers of the American Heartland. These tall and lengthy structures are nearly impressive from afar as they are up close. One cannot help but be amazed by their sheer size and scale.

Provided below is a working list of the longest grain elevators in the United States. This includes currently active elevators, as well as those where operations have ceased, but where the structures remain standing. The list also includes concrete structures, metal ones, as well as elevators that were constructed/expanded using a mix of the two materials.

Unless the length is specified through research, the elevators were measured along the structure’s longest axis. This includes related structures that are connected on that same axis, other than low-rise buildings for storage, office, etc. An equal sign (=) means the length is provided by resources, while an estimated symbol (~) indicates the length was approximated by using CalcMaps.

A minimum length of 300 feet is required for inclusion. As more grain elevators are identified around the country, they will be added to the list.

As can be seen from a review of the list, there are several cities that are home to a significant agglomeration of grain elevators. These include (listed alphabetically):

• Amarillo, Texas
• Dodge City, Kansas
• Duluth-Superior, Minnesota/Wisconsin
• Enid, Oklahoma
• Fort Worth (Saginaw), Texas
• Garden City, Kansas
• Hutchinson, Kansas
• Kansas City, Kansas/Missouri
• Omaha-Council Bluffs, Nebraska/Iowa
• Salina, Kansas
• Sioux City, Iowa/Nebraska/South Dakota
• Topeka, Kansas

Several other cities were once home to a large number of elevators, but have seen their numbers dwindle over the decades. These include Buffalo, New York; Chicago, Illinois; and Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota. Some cities have worked to preserve or adaptively reuse their former grain elevators including, but not limited to Buffalo, Enid, Salina, and Toledo. Separate posts from September 2nd and August 4th review some of these efforts. Enid, Oklahoma has so far as to have a cluster of nine grain elevators built between 1925 and 1954 declared a National Historic District.

As always, any additions, corrections, or suggestions to this list are most welcome. Peace!

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2. ADM Grain Elevator (1961): Hutchinson Kansas = 2,573 feet

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3. CGF/Cargill Gordon Grain Elevator (1954/1956/1957/1958): Topeka, Kansas ~ 2,090 feet (primary axis)

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4. Viterra Grain Elevator: Fort Worth (Saginaw), Texas ~ 1,805 feet

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5. Attebury Grain Elevator: Fort Worth (Saginaw), Texas ~ 1,688 feet

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6. Cargill U.S. 24 Grain Elevator: Topeka, Kansas ~ 1,510 feet

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7. Bartlett/Union Equity Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Kansas ~ 1,507 feet

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8. Cargill Ag Horizons Grain Elevator (South): Salina, Kansas ~ 1,504 feet

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9. CHS Grain Elevator (metal): Superior, WI ~ 1,423 feet

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10. Cargill Ag Horizons Grain Elevator (North): Salina, Kansas ~ 1,403 feet

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11. Union Equity Co-Operative Exchange Elevator B (1949): Enid, Oklahoma = 1,400 feet (240’/140′ tall)

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12. River Rail Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Kansas ~ 1,210 feet

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13. Attebury Grain Elevator (1950): Lubbock, Texas ~ 1,128 feet

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14. ADM North Halstead Grain Elevator: Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 1,089 feet

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15. Duluth Lake Port Storage (North): Duluth, MN ~ 1,072 feet

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16-17. Ag Producers Grain Elevator: Plainview, Texas and Cargill Grain Halstead Street Grain Elevator (N-S Axis): Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 1,060 feet

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17. Bunge Grain Elevator: Council Bluffs, Iowa ~ 1,020 feet

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18. CHS Grain Elevator: Superior, WI ~ 1,014 feet

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19. Viterra Grain Elevator (West): Amarillo, Texas ~ 1,007 feet

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20. ADM/Union Equity Grain Elevator X (1951): Enid, Oklahoma ~ 1,000 feet (see below)

21. ADM/Union Equity Grain Elevator Y (1951): Enid, Oklahoma ~ 1,000 feet (see above and below)

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22. ADM 1 South Halstead Grain Elevator West Row: Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 981 feet

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23. General Mills Grain Elevator T North: Minneapolis, Minnesota ~ 974 feet

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24. Friona Wheat Growers Grain Elevator: Friona, TX ~ 971 feet

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25. Concrete Central Elevator (1917): Buffalo, New York = 960 feet

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26. Cargill First Street Grain Elevator (North): Hutchinson, Kansas ~ 945 feet

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27. Garden City Co-op Lowe Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas ~ 937 feet

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28. ADM/Countrymark South Grain Elevator: Toledo, Ohio ~ 920 feet (135′ tall silos)

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29. Standard Grain Elevator (1928/1942 annex): Buffalo, New York = 890 feet (78′ tall silos)

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30. Union Equity Co-Operative Exchange Elevator A (1931): Enid, Oklahoma = 875 feet

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31-32. Chicago Grain Elevator: Chicago Illinois and General Mills Terminal A: Duluth, MN ~ 870 feet

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33-34. ADM 1 South Halstead Grain Elevator East Row: Hutchinson, Kansas and Central Valley AG Grain Elevator: Sioux City (Hinton), Iowa ~ 866 feet

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35-36. Omaha Grain Silos: Omaha, Nebraska and Gavilon Grain Elevator: Superior, WI ~ 858 feet

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37. Lake Calumet Grain Elevator (South): Chicago, Illinois ~ 840 feet

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38. Bartlett Grain: Kansas City, Missouri ~ 830 feet

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39. Lake Calumet Grain Elevator: Chicago, Illinois ~ 820 feet

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40-41. Cone Grain Elevator: Lubbock, Texas and Seibert Grain Elevator (metal): Seibert, CO ~ 780 feet

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42. ADM East Plant Grain Elevator: Decatur, Illinois ~ 763 feet

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43. Viterra Grain Elevator (E): Amarillo, Texas ~ 760 feet

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44. Cargill Grain Elevator: Linden, Indiana ~ 753 feet

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44-45. Cargill Silver Lake Grain Elevator: Topeka, Kansas and Duluth Lake Port Storage (south): Duluth, MN ~ 700 feet

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46-47. ADM Grain Elevators (2): Lincoln, Nebraska = 695 feet and 678 feet

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48. ADM/Countrymark North Grain Elevator: Toledo, OH ~ 680 feet

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49. Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Missouri ~ 642 feet

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50. Texoma Wheat Grower Grain Elevator: Guymon, Oklahoma ~ 635 feet

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51. Duluth Lake Port Storage (Rice’s Point): Duluth, MN ~ 613 feet

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52. General Mills Elevator T South: Minneapolis, Minnesota ~ 600 feet

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53. Cornerstone Terminal Grain Elevator: Colby, Kansas~ 595 feet

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54. Enid Terminal Elevator (1931): Enid, Oklahoma = 594 feet (concrete and metal)

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55. General Mills Terminal Elevator (1929): Enid, Oklahoma = 575 feet

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56-57. Garden City Co-op Grain Elevator: Garden City (Pierceville), Kansas and Goodland Grain Elevator: Goodland, KS ~ 568 feet

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58. Texico East Grain Elevator: Texico, Texas ~ 560 feet

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59. Heartland Co-op Grain Elevator: Des Moines, Iowa ~ 555 feet

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60-61. Pride Ag Grain Elevator: Dodge City, Kansas and Scoular Grain Elevator (concrete and metal): Oakley, Kansas ~ 540 feet

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62-63. New Cooperative Pioneer Grain Elevator: Fort Dodge, Iowa and Top Flight Co-op Grain Elevator: Cisco, Illinois ~ 530 feet

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64. Pride Ag Grain Elevator: Dodge City (Howell), Kansas ~ 527 feet

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65-66. Farmers Cooperative Grain Elevator: Hoag, Nebraska and Brewster Grain Elevator (South): Brewster, Kansas ~ 517 feet

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67. Hansen-Mueller North Elevator (name?): Superior, WI ~ 514 feet

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68-69. Commerce City Grain Elevator 2: Denver (Commerce City), Colorado and Seibert Equity Co-op Grain Elevator (concrete): Seibert, CO ~ 495 feet

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70. Attebury Lakeside Grain Elevator: Amarillo, Texas ~ 490 feet

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71. Hereford Grains Main Street Elevator: Hereford, Texas and Viterra Grain Elevator: Nebraska City, Nebraska ~ 487 feet

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72-73. Garden City Co-op Tennis Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas and Attebury Grain Elevator: Amarillo, Texas ~ 478 feet

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74-75. Bartlett South Grain Elevator: Council Bluffs, Iowa and General Mills Terminal SX: Superior, WI ~ 470 feet

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76-78. Hereford Grains First Street Elevator: Hereford, Texas; Garden City Co-op Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas; and Hansen Mueller Grain Elevator (E): Sioux City, Iowa ~ 460 feet

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79-80. Hooker Grain Elevator: Hooker, Oklahoma and Burlington Grain Elevator: Burlington, CO ~ 455 feet

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81-83. Garden City Co-op Grain Elevator: Garden City (Charleston), Kansas ~ 453 feet (L-shaped); Cargill Grain Elevator: Milford, Indiana; and Texico Grain Elevator: Texico, Texas ~ 453 feet

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84. Oklahoma Wheat Pool Terminal Elevator (1930/1935): Enid, Oklahoma = 450 feet

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85. Gavilon Grain Elevator: Sioux City (South Sioux City, Nebraska) ~ 450 feet

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86-87. Alliance Ag & Grain Elevator: Dodge City (Wright), Kansas and Cornerstone AG Grain Elevator C : Colby, Kansas ~ 445 feet

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88-89. Dodge City Co-op Exchange Elevator: Hanson, Kansas and ADM Grain Elevator: Salina, Kansas ~ 433 feet

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90. Brewster Grain Elevator (North/L-shaped): Brewster, Kansas ~ 422 feet

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91-93. Central Prairie Co-op Grain Elevator: Hutchinson (Nickerson), Kansas; American Plains Co-op Grain Elevator: Ellinwood, Kansas; and Cargill Grain Elevator: Parnell, Kansas ~ 415 feet

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94. Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Minneapolis, Minnesota ~ 410 feet

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95. Heartland Co-Op Grain Elevator: Muleshoe, Texas ~ 400 feet

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96. Southwest Terminal Elevator (1927): Enid, Oklahoma = 394 feet

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97. Hansen Mueller Grain Elevator (West): Sioux City, Iowa ~ 393 feet

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98. Viterra Grain Elevator: Terre Haute, Indiana ~ 385 feet

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99. Garden City Co-op Wolf Grain Elevator: Garden City, Kansas ~ 378 feet

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100. Farmers Cooperative Grain Elevator: Beatrice, Nebraska ~ 370 feet

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101. Pride Ag Grain Elevator: Dodge City (Ford), Kansas ~ 366 feet

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102. Dakota City Organic Grain Elevator: Sioux City, Iowa (Dakota City, Nebraska) ~ 364 feet

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103-106. North Lawrence Co-op Grain Elevator (1956): Lawrence, Kansas; Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Council Bluffs, Iowa; Hansen-Mueller Grain Elevator: Superior, WI; and Genoa Grain Elevator (metal): Genoa, Colorado ~ 346 feet

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107-108. Cargill Grain Halstead Street Grain Elevator (E-W Axis): Hutchison, Kansas and Equity Co-op Grain Elevator: Liberal Kansas ~ 335 feet

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109. Dumas Co-op Grain Elevator: Dumas, Texas ~ 332 feet

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110-111. ADM Grain Elevator (L-shaped): St. Peter, Illinois and Top Flight Co-op Grain Elevator: Maroa, Illinois ~ 320 feet

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112-114. Cargill Dry Corn Ingredients Grain Elevator: Paris, Illinois; Middle Elevator: Amarillo, Texas; and Flagler Cooperative Grain Elevator (L-shaped): Flagler, CO ~ 315 feet

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115-117. Cargill First Street Grain Elevator (South): Hutchinson, Kansas; Plains Grain Elevator: Plains, Kansas; and Star of the West Grain Elevator: Ligonier, Indiana ~ 307 feet

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118-119. ADM Grain Elevator (Earp Boulevard): Dodge City, Kansas and Robinhood Grain Elevator: Ponca City, Oklahoma ~ 302 feet

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120-123. ADM Grain Elevator (Trail Street): Dodge City, Kansas; 9th Street Grain Elevator: Hays, Kansas; NORAG Grain Elevator: Kansas City, Kansas; and ADM Grain Elevator: Edgewood, Illinois ~ 300 feet

SOURCES:

• google.gemini.ai
• https://simeza.com/the-worlds-largest-grain-terminal-a-storage-marvel-in-kansas/
• https://clui.org/ludb/site/haysville-grain-elevator
• https://www.worldrecordacademy.org/2023/6/worlds-largest-grain-elevator-world-record-in-wichita-kansas-423270
• https://www.trianglerealtyllc.com/listings/friona-sw-grain-facility-friona-tx/
• https://web.archive.org/web/20140718153638/http://www.ocgi.okstate.edu/shpo/nhrpdfs/09000239.pdf
• maps.google.com
• calcmaps.com
• preservation ready.org
• https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ny/ny1600/ny1669/data/ny1669data.pdf
• https://www.preservationready.org/Buildings/ConcreteCentralGrainElevator
• https://towns-and-nature.blogspot.com/2016/02/north-topeka-ks-cargill-grain-elevator.html
• https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2272&context=greatplainsquarterly
• https://www.tcnworldwide.com/listings?propertyId=2100-E-37th-Street-sale
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ponca_City_Milling_Company_Elevator

#agriculture #business #cities #distribution #farms #geography #grain #grainElevators #history #landUse #rail #rural #shipping #skyscrapers #statistics #storage #transportation #trucking

The “mural” of the story: Silo art enhances community

While traveling this year, we have been fortunate to see several outstanding examples of grain elevator/silo art being employed in cities and towns across the heartland. Given the naturally gray/beige color of these enormous structures, a splash of bright, bold colors or an inspiring image can enhance not just the towering structure itself, but also help brighten the entire surrounding neighborhood.

While approaching either downtown Salina, Kansas or Mankato, Minnesota, one cannot help but be impressed by the sky-high artistry depicted on the local grain elevator silos. The towering images of unity, community, diversity, and friendship in these two mid-sized prairie cities are breathtaking. Meanwhile, when entering Toledo along Interstate 75, the Glass City River Wall fronting the Maumee River immediately captures your attention.

Few community placemaking efforts can create such an immediate, meaningful, and positive response from locals and visitors alike. Personally, this retired planner prefers those silo murals that have a local historical and/or human connection versus just painting them to add color or a standardized patriotic theme. Such a direct connection is important to build both initial and continuous support from the community.

The murals also help promote civic pride and create a catalyst towards the rebirth of aging sectors of the city/town. Just imagine an outdoor performance venue with these 100+ foot tall icons overlooking the busy festivities below. Similar projects have been done successfully at former steel mills in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (SteelStacks) and Birmingham, Alabama (Sloss Furnaces) and at a former grain elevator in Buffalo, New York (RiverWorks).

Or perhaps a food truck rodeo could be established at the base of the silos serving up delicious meals throughout the week. Or they could become the centerpiece of a civic plaza with fountains, courtyards, light shows, and landscaping adoring the site. Honestly, the sky’s truly the limit for ideas employing these immensely impressive structures.

Kudos to each city/town here in the United States and elsewhere who have found the wherewithal to take visual art to exciting new heights. Below are images of the six silo murals we observed. Peace!

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Burlington, Colorado

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Edwardsburg, Michigan

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Mankato, Minnesota

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Salina, Kansas (two silo murals)

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Toledo, Ohio

#AllAboard #art #BrettWhitacre #cities #community #Dionysus #Edwardsburg #fun #GabeGault #GlassCityRiverWall #grainElevators #GuidoVanHelton #heritage #history #Mankato #MonumentsMuralProject #MuralTheMill #murals #music #PichiAvo #placemaking #planning #RiverWorks #Salina #siloArt #sios #SlossFurnaces #SteelStacks #towns #travel #unity

Grains of Preservation: Saving Historic Elevators & Silos

Reading about the current ongoing demolition of Damen Grain Silos in Chicago reminded me that these enormous giants are certainly reflective of America’s agricultural and industrial might. Unfortunately, too often they are demolished without serious consideration of preservation and/or adaptive reuse.

This post is dedicated to these towering structures and how some communities across the United States have found innovative ways to preserve, protect, and reuse grain elevators successfully. Examples range from hotels to condominiums to murals to offices to community centers to senior living center to climbing gyms. Several examples below show a murals that have been painted on an operating grain elevator, adding a giant splash of color and visual artistry to the typically grayish-beige towers.

Given the important local history associated with these iconic grain elevators/silos, their successful reuse and/or scenic adornment certainly helps induce greater pride in the community. As will be quite evident below, perhaps no other city in the nation has a richer concentrated collection of grain elevators, silos, and related structures than the City of Buffalo, New York. Thankfully, many of these impressive structures remain standing there today.

Peace!

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AKRON, OHIO

Quaker Oats Mill and Silos (1932-1973) to Quaker Square and Hotel in 1980 to University of Akron in 2007 (planned to be returned to a hotel per 2025 articles) = 125 feet in height – silos

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BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Baltimore and Ohio Locust Point Grain Terminal Elevator (1924) to Silo Point Condominiums (2009) = 308 feet in height

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BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS

Funk Brothers Grain Elevator (1948-?) to Upper Limits Rock Gym (1995) = 120 feet in height

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BUFFALO, NEW YORK

Marine A Grain Elevator (1925-?); Lake & Rail Grain Elevator (1930-2017); and the Perot Elevator and Malthouse (1907-1963) to Silo City = various heights between 80 and 120 feet

Silo City incorporates a unique collection of uses that celebrate and preserve the industrial heritage, culture, and ecology of Western New York. Uses vary from heritage tours to dining to artistic displays and performances to ecological restoration and environmental education. Hive City at Elevator B is a 22 foot tall human made bee habitat.

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

Wheeler-GLF Grain Mill and Elevators (1909-mid-1970s) to RiverWorks Sports & Entertainment District (2014) = 100 feet in height (silos)

BUFFALO, NEW YORK

Connecting Terminal Grain Elevator (1914/1954-?) to Lighted Artistic Displays (2015)

CLAY CENTER, KANSAS

Key Feeds Elevator – “Bucolic America” Mural added (2021) = 90 feet in height

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DENVER, COLORADO

Ardent Mills Grain Elevator – Mural added (2022) = 85 feet in height (mural)

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FAULKNER, SOUTH DAKOTA

Agtegra Elevator (1958-present) – Mural added (2018) = 110 feet in height (mural)

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HICO, TEXAS

Grain Elevator (?-early 1970s) to Siloville Climbing Gym (2015) = 66 feet in height

INMAN, KANSAS

Inman Grain Elevator (?-2000) to Mural (2020) = 108 feet in height (mural)

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MANKATO, MINNESOTA

Ardent Mills Grain Elevator (1919-2025) – Mural added (2020) = 135 feet – planning is underway for reuse of the facility

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

Ceresota Elevator (1908-1980) to Office Space (1987) to Miller’s Landing Senior Living (2015)

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NEWTON, KANSAS

Ardent Mills North Grain Elevator – proposed mural for facility next to the city library

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OKLAHOMA

Grain Elevator to The Silos Climbing Gym (1999) and added a mural entitled “This Land” (2012) = 90 feet in height (mural)

OMAHA, NEBRASKA

Ardent Mils South Grain Elevator (1935-present) – Mural added (2023)

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA

Reading Railroad 20th Street Elevator (1925) to The Granary (1970) to Tidewater Rentals and a liquor store on the ground floor (2021)

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ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA

St. Paul Municipal Grain Terminal (1931) to City House (2009)

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SAGINAW, MICHIGAN

Frutchey Bean Company Grain and Bean Silos (1950s-?) to Shine Bright Saginaw Mural Project (2024) = 150 feet in height

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SALINA, KANSAS

H.D. Lee Flour Mill (?-2019) to “Mural at the Mill” (2021) a Salina Kanvas Project = 100 feet in height

TOLEDO, OHIO

Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) Grain Elevators (1945-present) – Glass City River Wall (added 2022) = 135 feet in height (murals)

TOLEDO, OHIO (cement elevators)

Holcim Cement Terminal Elevators – New mural (2025) by artist Dean Davis along the Glass City Riverwalk

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WICHITA, KANSAS

Beachner Grain Elevator – Horizontes (Horizons) Mural entitled “El Sueño Original” added (2018) = 100+/- feet in height

#agriculture #art #cities #climbing #condos #fun #grain #grainElevators #history #hotels #housing #landUse #murals #office #painting #planning #silos #towers #travel

Bulldozing our history 'Bulldozing our history' https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/493772/Bulldozing-our-history

Restoring the #Nanton elevators,..each big enough to hold about 40,000 bushels of grain, are approaching 100 years old. The weathered wooden structures, designated provincial historical resources, are structurally sound but feeling their age.

The number of elevators has declined drastically, from 5,700 in the 1930s to less than 100 today.

"We lose about five a year across Western Canada," Wieser said. #GrainElevators

This is one of the two grain elevators in the village of Val Marie, #Saskatchewan, which is the gateway to Grasslands National Park. I had a hard time deciding which one of the two to feature first. This one won, only because I loved the look of the skies in this photo. 😂 The other elevator has the year 1927 on it but not on this one so I'm not sure when this one was built. I'm guessing around the same period.

#ValMarie #GrainElevators #Canada #architecture #landscape #travel #photography