The Ozarks Studies Institute will host a one-hour virtual panel discussion on giraffe-style stone architecture in the Ozarks on Tuesday, March 29 at noon. The event is free and open to the public. Guests can join the conversation via Zoom.

The discussion will be led by the following panelists:

• Greg Herman – Associate Professor of Architecture and Director, The Fay and Gus Jones House Stewardship at the University of Arkansas
• Mark Wheeler – Missouri State University Architect and Director of Planning, Design and Construction
• Tom Peters – Dean of Library Services at Missouri State University and the Director of the Ozarks program of the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival

A look into giraffe architecture:

Prevalent throughout much of the 20th century, this architectural style gets its name from multi-colored mortared stone arranged in patterns resembling a giraffe’s coat. The primary material used for construction was originally sandstone, but builders eventually moved to incorporating limestone and dolomite. Interestingly, all three of these rocks can be found rising from the ground or close to the surface throughout much of the Ozarks region. Giraffe-style architecture still exists in the form of cottages, houses, churches, businesses, and government buildings both in the Ozarks area and all throughout the world.

The bigger picture:

This online conversation will explore the origins of giraffe architecture in the Ozarks, its evolution and use in the region, and explanations about its staying power. The discussion is part of the university’s scholarly content associated with and leading up to its participation in the 2023 Smithsonian Folklife Festival. This summer festival will feature the Ozarks region, presented in part by Missouri State University, on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. The university is partnering with the Smithsonian, as well as individuals and organizations across the region, to coordinate the Ozarks program of the festival.

More on the Ozarks Studies Institute:

The Ozarks Studies Institute, an initiative of the Missouri State University Libraries, seeks to preserve the history and culture of the Ozarks by fostering a comprehensive knowledge of Ozarks’ people and their heritage. The institute serves as an educational resource by collecting and discovering new knowledge about the Ozarks and providing access to that knowledge.