Grain elevators are storage areas that are used to house grain and prepare it for eventual shipment. A grain elevator may be a single building or an interconnected series of buildings, depending on the size of the operation. Generally, the design of a grain elevator allows for easy storage and retrieval of grain while providing a stable environment that helps to delay the decomposition of the grain.

One of the first designs for a grain elevator appeared in the early 1840’s in the United States. Joseph Dart, who was also the creator of the marine leg, designed storage buildings that could be easily located near shipping ports. The design of the grain elevator allowed for the marine leg, which is essentially a large scoop, to easily extract grain from ships and other carriage devices and place it into the storage building.

While the first examples of the grain elevator were simple wooden buildings, brick and masonry quickly became the materials of choice for construction. The spouts and conveying ductwork that allow for easy extraction from a grain elevator are often made with steel. Using the natural flow of gravity, the spouts can be opened and grain is forced out of the elevator and into bins or trucks for easy transportation.

While the grain elevator was first utilized in New York State, the concept quickly caught on in other parts of the United States. By the latter part of the 19th century, the grain elevator was a common sight in the Midwest, often used for the storage of corn and wheat. The Southwest and the Southern United States also make use of grain elevators to store various types of grains. Some examples of the modern grain elevator are simple one building operation that may serve the farmers who form a local cooperative. Other constructions of the grain elevator may involve multiple buildings and include a sophisticated series of ducts to connect the units.

Often, a grain elevator is strategically placed in a location where transport to and from the facility is relatively easy. The grain elevator may be found near railroads, riverbanks, or a section of flatland that is located within easy distance of fields used to grow various grains.