The Ozarks Studies Institute at Missouri State University Libraries invites you to join us for “Giraffe Style Stone Architecture in the Ozarks,” a one-hour virtual panel discussion via Zoom. 

Prevalent throughout much of the 20th century, this architectural feature gets its name from colorful mortared stone arranged in web wall construction with patterns resembling a giraffe’s coat. The primary material was sandstone, although builders incorporated limestone and dolomite, all of which are found rising from the ground or close to the surface throughout much of the Ozarks region. Examples of this style still exist in the form of cottages, houses, churches, businesses, and government buildings.

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. This event will contribute to Missouri State University’s scholarly content associated with and leading up to the Smithsonian Institution’s Folklife Festival, which will feature the Ozarks region on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. during the summer of 2023. Missouri State University is partnering with the Smithsonian and individuals and organizations across the region to coordinate the Ozarks program of the festival.

The panelists for the March 29 event are:

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