Canon Ranch Railroad Eclipse Windmill
Why it's listed
Rising above the corral area of the Charles C. Canon Ranch west of Sheffield, Texas, this Railroad Eclipse windmill is built of wood, cast iron and steel. Its wheel measures 22-1/2 feet across and carries 232 wooden blades. William Canon, a rancher with extensive holdings west of the Pecos River, put it up in 1898 to replace a mule-driven pump at the ranch headquarters. Railroads had brought windmills to West Texas around 1881 to supply water for steam locomotives, and this model was the largest the Eclipse Company ever made. A newer telescoped tower replaced the original in 1915. After a windstorm damaged the mill in the early 1960s, Charles C. Canon, the builder's son, had it fully restored in 1964. It is considered one of the few operable windmills of its type left in the United States, and an electric motor now drives the well plunger below it.
Significance in brief: It is described as one of the few operable Railroad Eclipse windmills remaining in the United States. This model was the largest commercially produced windmill in the country and was widely used along railway routes in the arid Southwest. The 22-1/2 foot size was the largest the Eclipse Company ever built, and the mill served as the ranch headquarters' primary water source for many years.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 77001465, listed September 22, 1977. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | W of Sheffield on Canon Ranch, Sheffield |
|---|---|
| County | Pecos County |
| Listed | September 22, 1977 |
| Reference number | 77001465 |
| Resource type | Site |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | William Canon |
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Engineering |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1964 and described as in excellent operating condition; an electric motor currently operates the well plunger beneath the windmill. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 30.74587, -101.97531 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Sites (archaeological sites, battlefields, landscapes) are often listed with a restricted address to protect them from looting or disturbance. Listing is honorary for private owners; federal undertakings on or near the site go through Section 106 review, and state laws may protect burials and artefacts regardless of listing.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 77001465.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5033265
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.