Big Well (Kansas)

The Big Well, in Greensburg, Kansas, USA, is a water well that was designed to provide water for the Santa Fe and Rock Island railroads. It was built in 1887 at a cost of $45,000, and served as the municipal water supply until 1932.

It is billed as the world's largest hand-dug well, at 109 feet deep and 32 feet in diameter. Only the Pozzo di S. Patrizio (St. Patrick's Well) built in 1527 in Orvieto, Italy, is larger, measuring 61 meters deep (200 feet) by 13 meters wide (42 feet).

It was designated a National Museum in 1972; in 1973 it was awarded an American Water Landmark by the American Water Works Association. Under the name of "Greensburg Well," it has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1972.

Visitors entered the well for a small fee, descending an illuminated stairway to the bottom of the well.

Visitor center

The well had a visitor's center detailing the history of the well's construction. On May 4 2007, a tornado hit Greensburg, destroying the center.

The visitor's center also displayed a Brenham half-ton (1,000 lb, 450 kg) pallasite meteorite recovered from the area. The meteorite was billed as the world's largest single-piece pallasite, but that title is held by other samples. It was reported that the Big Well visitor center was destroyed, and the meteorite was missing on May 7, after an EF5 tornado destroyed the town. The meteorite, which was insured for $1 million, was later located underneath a collapsed wall and is being displayed temporarily at the Sternberg Museum of Natural History in Hays, Kansas.

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Bryan Blundell
10 March 2019
I wasn't sure what to expect, but after making the stop & paying a fairly nominal entrance fee I would say it was definitely worth it. Spent maybe 30-45 minutes. Enjoyed by kids (6, 9, 16) & parents.
Agnes B
1 January 2016
You could learn a lot from all the media information. It's also very moving. From Kansas and know about tornadoes but still was moved.
Marian Wilson
30 September 2011
The ladies at the visitor center is very nice and informative.
Nicole F
9 August 2012
Great visit and the ladies are very kind!
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Map
350-398 South Sycamore Street, Greensburg, KS 67054, USA Get directions
Mon-Sat 9:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sun 1:00 PM–6:00 PM

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