32. Prairie Skyscrapers

They're blocky and awkward, but they have a certain charm. More importantly, grain elevators are part of prairie history, and a symbol of the expansion (and now contraction) of rural life.

Two quotes, then, from this article on the disappearing grain elevators:

Where there were elevators, people followed, and alongside the structures, countless new towns emerged. For the pioneers, the grain elevator was a symbol of prestige and pride; the tallest building in every community, towering majestically over the vast prairie expanse like noble sentinels.

With wheat weighing as much as 25 kilograms per bushel, it was also essential the structures were built to accommodate the tremendous pressures of tons of stored grain. As well, the country grain elevator had to be fortress-like to withstand the blistering hot, dry prairie summers and the harsh, cold winters.

Mounted on concrete foundations, elevator walls were strengthened by cribbed wooden construction, with the inside built from two by four inch boards, while the outside was reinforced with two by six inch boards fixed together horizontally with penny nails, with the ends overlapping each other and dovetailing together, creating a heavy, strong and relatively fire-resistant structure. The elevator was then covered in wooden siding or metal sheeting. By 1920, the distinctive vertical, rectangular tower was an industry standard, usually about 3.25 metre square, and 12 to 21 metres high.

A gallery of Alberta grain elevators has photos from around the province.