The Atlas Obscura Podcast The Big Well
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May 6, 2025 In a small Kansas town, a giant hand-dug well became a beacon for visitors. The story of this remarkable attraction reveals the town's spirit and resilience through tough times. After a devastating tornado, Greensburg rebuilt, focusing on sustainability and innovation. Today, the Big Well symbolizes not just a historic feat, but the community's journey of recovery and pride, transforming into a museum that connects visitors to its rich history.
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Greensburg's Big Well Solution
- Greensburg was a small, newly formed town with no reliable water source or attraction for visitors.
- They built a massive hand-dug well over 100 feet deep to solve both problems simultaneously.
Community Labor Built the Well
- Thirty men were paid 50 cents a day to dig the well, attracting locals and travelers who could stop, work, and earn money.
- Tools used included shovels, pickaxes, pulleys, and barrels, showing community effort and practicality.
Tornado Devastation and Response
- In 2007, Greensburg was devastated by a nearly two-mile wide tornado, destroying 95% of its structures.
- The community faced loss and decline but chose to rebuild comprehensively and sustainably.