GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK — Ever snapped a photo of the “most photographed barn in America”?
Grand Teton National Park is spotlighting the widely known Moulton Barn, popular with visitors and photographers from around the world as an enduring symbol of the American West against a photogenic Teton backdrop. Before it graced countless postcards, magnets and calendars, though, it served a practical purpose: sheltering horses. According to GTNP, Thomas Alma Moulton began construction of the barn in 1913 as part of his homestead. The structure grew over the decades, with a hayloft added in 1928 and lean-to sheds on each side added in the late 1930s.
“What began as a practical working structure became one of the most iconic and recognizable buildings in Jackson Hole,” GTNP posted to social media. “More than 100 years later, the barn still stands as a testament to the hard work that went into homesteading in Wyoming. Its continued preservation is the result of decades of care by the Moulton family, park staff, and numerous volunteers who repaired, reroofed, rechinked, and stained the barn. Interior supports and cables now help keep the historic structure standing strong.”
Barn visitors this summer might encounter some construction as the Mormon Row area gets a makeover. Expect to see the addition of paved trails and other enhancements.
“Preservation is about more than protecting old buildings,” GTNP posted. “It’s about protecting stories. Historic Preservation Month reminds us that places like this help us connect to the people who lived here before us — the hardships they faced, the lives they built, and the legacy they left behind. Every weathered board has a story to tell.”
Barn visitors should remember to treat the historic structure with respect.
