We thought we’d take a break from our current obsession with wind turbines and take a pictorial look at the some old-style windmills. These beauties were originally designed to harness the wind’s power to pump water (Holland wouldn’t otherwise exist), grind grain and cut lumber. As you’ll see, the design has migrated around the globe.

• top left: One of the original Dutch windmills relied upon to keep folks dry. This one’s located at Kinderdijk, Netherlands.  via: tabblo.com
• middle: Located in the undulating fields of Norfolk England, Bircham Windmill looks much as it did over 100 years ago when it ground corn grown on local farms.  via: west-norfolk.gov.uk
• right: Belgium’s hilltop Bruge Windmill.  via: travelblog.org (photo by Michael & Kelley Turner)

• above left: Pitstone Windmill – believed to be Great Britain’s oldest.  via: wikipedia.org
• center: San Francisco ode to Dutch windmills, appropriately named the ‘Dutch Windmill,” was completed in 1902 and remains a popular tourist attraction near the Golden Gate Bridge.
• right: A windmill located in the Australian outback.