This building was originally a horse barn located on the old Chuel Farm, which is now part of the Cedar Rapids Airport. It was brought to Ushers Ferry in 1984 to make way for the airport expansion, and has been remodeled to become our livery stable exhibit.

From the domestication of the horse in ancient times until the advent of the automobile in the early twentieth century, horses served as the backbone of human transportation and industry and were bred for a variety of purposes. Large powerful draft horses, initially bred to carry soldiers to war, were later utilized by farmers to plow and harvest fields or by teamsters and draymen to pull heavy wagons of goods through busy city streets. Lighter breeds, bred for riding or driving where speed and comfort were more of a concern, became known as pleasure horses. Most pony breeds, though usually thought of as children's mounts, were actually developed and raised for the mining industry as larger animals could not travel well down the cramped and tiny mine shafts.

Although horses permeated nearly every aspect of 19th and early 20th century society (new steam and gasoline engines were measured in "horsepower" and the railroad was often referred to as the "iron horse"), their place in the American family was not necessarily interchangeable with the automobile of today. The percentage of families that owned a horse and buggy was fewer than those who now own automobiles, and a two-buggy family was rare.

For city dwellers, ownership of a horse and buggy was not quite the necessity that it was for those who lived on the farms or in the country. Mass transportation was available in the form of trains and horse-drawn or electric trolleys, and all the important elements of daily life including work, school, church and stores were usually within walking distance of home. Nor was keeping a horse in town very practical, as one had to consider such difficulties as lack of pasture, purchase of feed and veterinary care, and disposal of manure. As a result, most small towns featured at least one and often times two or three livery stables, where horses and buggies could be rented for an excursion out of town, or travelers passing through town could put up their horses for the duration of their stay.

Many livery stables offered a variety of services, including veterinary care and farrier service as well as repairs to harness or buggies. Oftentimes Liveries were owned and operated by veterinarians or blacksmiths who saw it as a logical expansion of their business.