In 1888, the debut of the first Aermotor windmill opened the gates for rural expansion by enabling early settlers to easily access water for their homes, fields, and livestock.

Like modern groundwater wells, these windmills use a pump rod that moves up and down to bring water to the surface. During the upward motion, check valves let water into the pipe and secure it until the next downward motion. To ensure no water escapes, durable pump leathers seal the sides of the pump cylinder and the bottom check valve closes.

Powered solely by the wind, these windmills can move impressive amounts of water. For example, in winds of 15-20 miles per hour, an eight-foot windmill can pump up to three gallons per minute from nearly 200 feet below ground.

Our windmill was donated by Indian Creek Farms