Tourism

Illinois was once the nation’s breadbasket and home to a large concentration of grist mills. But, it is not the only state with traditional windmills: Dutch, Danish, English, French, and American mills can be found in several states from coast to coast. Click on a link above to visit that mill’s profile (more pages will be added).

I encourage enthusiasts to visit the windmills listed below and, if possible, to donate to the mills’ restoration and operation funds. Keeping these treasures preserved and well-maintained will ensure their survival for, hopefully, another few hundred years.

NOTE: Only surviving custom windmills are a part of the following list. Windmill-shaped buildings and other non-traditional windmills are not included. Help me add to this list by sending an email to info@illinoiswindmills.org

Surviving Custom Windmills in the United States (64)

City	State	Name	Built (Restored)	Status
Escondido	California	Escondido Windmill	2009	Open and operational
San Francisco	California	Dutch (North) Windmill	1902 (1991)	Closed, operated by motor
San Francisco	California	Murphy (South) Windmill	1905 (2000 - )	Closed, under restoration by Verbij

Elmhurst	Illinois	Fischer Windmill	1867 (1926)	Closed, awaiting restoration
Fulton	Illinois	De Immigrant	2001	Open and operational
Geneva	Illinois	Fabyan Windmill	1873 (2005)	Open and operational
Golden	Illinois	Prairie Mills Windmill	1873 (2002)	Open and operational
Peotone	Illinois	Peotone Windmill	1872	Open, awaiting restoration

Elk Horn	Iowa	Danish Windmill	1856 (1976)	Open and operational
Pella	Iowa	Vermeer Windmill	2002	Open and operational

Smith Center	Kansas	"Old Dutch Mill"	1879 (1938)	Unknown
Wamego	Kansas	"Old Dutch Mill"	1879 (1925)	Unknown

Cambridge	Maryland	Spocott Windmill	1850 (1972)	Open and operational

Brewster	Massachusetts	Old Higgin's Windmill	1795 (1974)	Open and operational
Buzzard's Bay	Massachusetts	Windmill Beach House	?	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Cataumet	Massachusetts	Red Brook Windmill	1853 (1905)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Cataumet	Massachusetts	Rothery Windmill	1900	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Cataumet	Massachusetts	Rothery Windmill	1900s	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Chatham	Massachusetts	Sur Mer Windmill	1820 (1911)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Chatham	Massachusetts	Benjamin Godfrey Windmill	1797 (1956)	Open and operational
Eastham	Massachusetts	Eastham Windmill	1793 (1808)	Open and operational
Harwich Port	Massachusetts	John Smith Windmill	1792 (1940s)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Martha's Vineyard	Massachusetts	Tisbury (Merry's) Windmill	1815 (1888)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Nantucket	Massachusetts	Nantucket Windmill	1746	Open and operational
Orleans	Massachusetts	Jonathan Young Windmill	1839 (1983)	Open and operational
Sandwich	Massachusetts	Heritage Plantation Windmill	1800	Open and operational
South Dartmouth	Massachusetts	Wyatt Windmill	1700s (1924)	Closed, non-operational
Truro	Massachusetts	Castle Hill Windmill	?	Truro Center for the Arts
Wellfleet	Massachusetts	Morning Glory Windmill	? (1870)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Yarmouth	Massachusetts	Judah Baker Windmill	1791 (1999)	Open, non-operational

Dearborn	Michigan	Greenfield Windmill	1633 (1936)	Closed, non-operational
Holland	Michigan	De Zwaan	? (1964)	Open and operational

Mankato	Minnesota	Seppmann Windmill	1864	Closed, non-operational
New Hartford	Minnesota	Old Rush Windmill	1870s	Open and operational

Milford	New Jersey	Volendam Museum	1960s	Closed, non-operational

Amagansett	New York	Amagansett Windmill	?	Closed, non-operational
Bay Shore	New York	Conover Windmill	?	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Bridgehampton	New York	Bebee Windmill	1890 (2009 - )	Open, under restoration
East Hampton	New York	Gardiner Windmill	1804	Open, non-operational
East Hampton	New York	Gardiner's Island Windmill	1795 (1815)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
East Hampton	New York	Hayground Windmill	1801	Closed, non-operational
East Hampton	New York	Hook Windmill	1806 (1931)	Open, non-operational
East Hampton	New York	Wainscott Windmill	1813	Closed, non-operational
East Hampton	New York	Pantigo Windmill	1804 (1979)	Open, under restoration
Glen Island	New York	Orient Windmill	1810 (1910)	Closed, non-operational
Morristown	New York	McConnell Windmill	1825	Closed, non-operational
Napoli	New York	Gladden Windmill	1890	Closed, non-operational: vertical axis turbine
Shelter Island	New York	Shelter Island Windmill	1810 (1840)	Closed, non-operational
Southampton	New York	Betts Windmill	? (1890)	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Southampton	New York	Claflin Windmill	1713 (2009)	Open, non-operational
Water Mill	New York	Corwith Windmill	1800 (1987)	Open, non-operational

Kenmare	North Dakota	Danish Windmill	1902 (1959)	Open, non-operational
Minot	North Dakota	Danish Windmill	1928 (1960s)	Closed, non-operational

East Greenwich	Rhode Island	East Greenwich Windmill	1874	Closed, non-operational: private residence
Jamestown	Rhode Island	Jamestown Windmill	1787 (2001)	Open and operational
Middletown	Rhode Island	Boyd Windmill	1810 (1990)	Open and operational: 8 sails
Middletown	Rhode Island	Prescott Windmill	1811 (1970)	Open and operational
Newport	Rhode Island	Newport Tower	?	Closed, non-operational

Millbank	South Dakota	Millbank Grist Windmill	1884 (2009)	Open and operational

Lubbock	Texas	Flowerdew Hundred Windmill	1612 (1978) (2010)	Open and operational (relocated from VA)
Victoria	Texas	Victoria Windmill	1870 (1935)	Closed, non-operational

Williamsburg	Virginia	Robertson Windmill	1621 (1950s)	Closed, under repair

Little Chute	Wisconsin	Little Chute Windmill	2011	Under construction by Verbij
Superior	Wisconsin	Davidson Windmill	1904	Closed, operated by motor: 8 sails

Surviving Mills in Illinois (3)

City	Name	Power Source	Built (Restored)	Status
Oak Brook	Graue Mill	Water	1852 (2009)	Open and operational (by motor)
Franklin Grove	Franklin Creek Grist Mill	Water	1847 (1999)	Open and operational (by water)
New Salem	New Salem Carding Mill	Oxen	1835 (1932)	Open and operational (by oxen)