Windmills were common visual icons of the Southwest in the plains and high desert from the 1800s. Metal windmills like this model became popular after 1890 because their curved blades captured more wind and required less maintenance than older wooden models. In the arid West, windmills were instrumental in developing range land by allowing ranchers to maintain large herds of cattle in remote locations, where cattle could graze up to 5 miles and return to water in the evening. Depending on wind speed and blade size, a large windmill could pump water from a depth of 150 feet at a rate of up to 100 gallons per hour, ensuring that a stock tank would always have water. In Winslow, the windmill reflects the town's connection with ranching, and local ranchers marked its wooden scaffolding with their unique brands during its dedication in 2014.