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Windmills on the National Grasslands

Graphic of Oklahoma, a green dot showing the location of the National Grassland.

Black Kettle National Grassland
Oklahoma

By Tom Smeltzer

This is a Dempster 12A windmill in Unit 76 of the Black Kettle National Grassland, located adjacent to a homestead structure. The wind driven water pump was the lifeblood of the plains and settlement in general. Too much wind will devastate a windmill.

Building ruins and a damaged windmill on snow-covered grasslands.