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The Grand Tetons are some of the most stunning mountains in the United States, and a favorite spot to capture their magic is the iconic John Moulton barn. The John Moulton barn is surely one of the top things to see if one only has two days to explore Grand Teton National Park. Many tours of the national park will include stopovers by the barn while exploring the dramatic park.
The barn is located in Jackson Hole, where there is plenty to see and do and where one can discover an area very different from the rest of the national park. The barn can be seen from the road, and the only fee is the main entrance fee to the national park.
John Moulton Barn - America's Most Photographed Barn
The John Moulton barn is in Jackson Hole and is perhaps the most photographed barn in the world. Travelers from far and wide are mesmerized by the outstanding beauty of the barn in the foreground and the Teton Range as the dramatic backdrop. The image is enhanced by rustic fences and corrals that contribute character to the view.
- Location: Grand Teton National Park
The John Moulton Barn is located on the west side of the road called Mormon Row. It is situated in the Antelope Flats between the towns of Kelly and Moose.
If one is lucky, one may be able to get the Grand Tetons, the barn, and herds of bison all in one picture.
The barn is in the Grand Teton National Park, and the park is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year (although the popular months are May through to September).
Entrance Fees To Grand Teton:
- Seven Day Pass: $35.00 Per Vehicle
- Annual Pass: $70.00 Per Vehicle
Come before dawn to see the sunrise and the stunning colors of the barn and the mountains for the best photos.
From Homestead Barn To Photography Attraction
The John Moulton Barn is all that's left of a homestead built by Thomas Alma Moulton and his sons. The homestead was built between 1912 and 1945. John Moulton first homesteaded on Mormon Row in 1908 and he dry-farmed grain there built irrigation ditches were built sometime later. In the 1920s, he switched to dairy farming.
- Built: The Homestead Was Built Between 1912 and 1945
- Purchased: In 1953 By The NPS With A Lifetime Lease
- Full Possession: By The NPS In 1991
The Grand Teton National Park was expanded by 1950 to include the Jackson Hole National Monument, and even more, the land was sold to the National Park Service. Eventually, the National Park Service purchased all the land. In 1953 John Moulton (then aged 66) sold his land to the Grand Teton National Park with a life lease. This eased the financial strain on him and allowed him to continue to live and work the land (with certain rules) for his lifetime.
John Moulton stayed on the farm, working it for another 37 years until the 1970s, with his sons continuing to manage it until his death in 1990. John Moulton lived to the ripe old age of 103.
On his death, the land was to be fully acquired by the NPS, and, per the agreement, his family was required to leave the property. His brother's home nearby is still privately owned by John's grandnephew, who continues to live on the acre of land the NPS has not yet acquired.
Part Of The Mormon Row Historic District
The John Moulton Barn is part of the Mormon Row Historic District. Mormon Row is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is made up of a line of homestead complexes near the southeastern corner of the Grand Teton National Park.
- Listed: On The National Register Of Historic Places Since 1997
The buildings illustrate Mormon settlements in the area and include barns, fields, corrals, and other farming structures. The Mormon settlers tended to build clustered communities rather than the isolated homesteads that were otherwise more typical of the Jackson Hole area. The most important farms are those of Andy Chambers, T.A. Moulton, and John Moulton.
- Built: Between 1908 and the 1950s
- Homesteads: 27 Homesteads in the Grovont Area
To see the John Moulton barn and the Mormon Row, drive north from Jackson on highway 191 past Moose Junction and turn right onto Antelope Floats Road. The Mormon Row is around 1.5 miles down that road. At the small dirt parking area, visitors can find a trail brochure and an interpretive sign.