 "Photo: Linc Armes/The Daily Toreador")
Driving along U.S. Highway 87 south of Lubbock, it is hard not to notice the dozens of windmills popping up next to the road.
When windmills were introduced to the Great Plains, it revolutionized farming and ranching. While some structures do not resemble the windmills of today, windmills served an important role and were highly effective. Some original windmills which were used in the 1800s are on permanent display in Lubbock.
Coy Harris, executive director of the American Wind Power Center, said windmills originated in Persia in about the year 600 for grinding grains.
According to Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia, windmills then spread across the world, making their way to China and the Middle East. In the 12th century, windmills appeared in England and France before quickly spreading throughout Europe.
Post mills, as they were originally called, served many purposes. They were built to pump seawater, saw wood, make paper and grind different materials.
Harris said the introduction of the windmill to the Great Plains was a major factor in settling the Western United States. According to the Center's Web site, by 1920 tens of thousands of windmills had popped up across the Great Plains.
He said the windmills were helpful to farmers and ranchers in obtaining water.
"If you look around, there's not much water," Harris said. "But, there's a big pool of water under the ground. For the farmers and ranchers that lived out here, the only method to get water was the windmill."
He said the Center has more than 140 windmills on display. According to the Center's Web site, it is the largest collection of windmills in the world. The Center has more than 32,000 square feet of space available for windmill display.
Harris said windmills are on display inside and outside.
"We have 92 mills inside," he said. "These are the rarest."
Harris said the oldest mill at the Center dates back to 1868. It was designed by the man who obtained the first windmill patent. He said there are two windmills with 25-foot diameters used for pumping water and a wind turbine with a diameter of 155 feet.
He said the turbine is used for generating electricity.
"In one year, the turbine can generate enough energy to power over 100 homes," Harris said.
He said the Center was originally thought of in the 1960s as a windmill collection. After much thought and planning, the American Wind Power Center opened in 1993. According to the Center's Web site, the city of Lubbock provided the land and a building for indoor display.
Harris said the majority of the water-pumping windmills were donated. This is not the case with the wind turbine though.
"The turbine cost about $1 million," he said.
Harris said everyone will find a windmill they like because of the broad range of windmills on display.
"We have big mills, we have little mills," he said.
The Center also has a museum store where miniature windmills, mugs and T-shirts are available for purchase.
The American Wind Power Center is located at 1701 Canyon Lake Dr. The hours of operation are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.
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