The Hurd Round House

On the open prairies near Hurdsfield, North Dakota, there stands a house that seems to defy the straight lines of the plains. At first glance, the Hurd Round House looks almost like a puzzle—its roof perfectly circular, sweeping across the horizon like a dome, while its base remains square and sturdy, rooted in the earth. Against the backdrop of flat farmland, its unusual silhouette has puzzled and fascinated travelers for more than a century.

The home was built around 1900 by Warren Hurd, the son of a prominent land developer. At the time, the Hurds were deeply involved in attracting settlers to Wells County, selling farmland to newcomers seeking opportunity. The Round House became more than just a family dwelling—it served as a reception and social space, a kind of architectural showpiece where potential buyers could be impressed by both the hospitality and the imagination of the Hurds. The circular roof was as much a statement as it was a shelter, suggesting that life on the prairie didn’t have to mean living in a cookie-cutter homestead.

Inside, the home was both practical and unconventional. The open upper floor beneath the round roof gave the impression of a great hall, filled with light and air, while the ground level offered the solid, square footprint of a traditional home. It was a blend of novelty and necessity, an architectural conversation between the pragmatic and the whimsical.

Over the years, the Hurd Round House weathered storms, harsh winters, and the inevitable passing of time. Many rural curiosities of its era have long since disappeared, but this one endured. Today, it stands as both a lived-in home and a historic landmark, carefully preserved to retain its oddball charm. Visitors driving through Wells County still pause to marvel at it—a house that dared to be different, a reminder that even on the wide-open plains, there was always room for a little imagination.