Area barns on annual tour

Iowa Barn Foundation

If you are looking for a great multi-generation family adventure this fall, mark Sept. 16-17 on your calendar.

That is the weekend that the Iowa Barn Foundation (IBF) will hold its annual All-State Barn Tour with 72 historic barns across the state open for touring inside and out. Many of the owners and family members will be on hand to share the stories behind their barns, which served as the central hub of activity on the farm. The Iowa countryside will be one expansive museum with barns located across the state. The self-guided tour is free and open to the public.

Area barns include:

Union County Barn (also called Harris Barn), 1600 Stone St., Creston-located in McKinley Park at Union County Historical Village, Stone Street in Creston (Union County) - This barn, built in 1896, is a perfect example of post and beam construction with diagonal braces. Horizontal cladding is rare and is associated with Civi

l War veterans

Taylor County Round Barn, 1001 Pollock Blvd, Bedford (Taylor County)-At the intersection of Iowa 2 and Iowa 148-Round barn was built by the Cameron family in 1907 near Lenox, originally used for storage and horses. They donated it to Taylor County Historical Society, who moved it to the museum grounds in 1988. It is 64 feet in diameter and 55 feet in height. Round barns are very rare and are built for efficiency of space and to withstand harsh Iowa weather.

Vandewater Barn (Meadow Brook Farm), 3100 270th Street, Orient (Adair County)-Between Greenfield and Winterset, take Vinton Avenue (P39) south of Iowa 92 to 270th Street (G53) and turn right (west). Go one mile west of Hebron Methodist Church. Barn was built by Henry Vandewater in 1911 and has been in the family since. It has notched beams, pegs, mortise and tendon joints and a memorable wooden cupola.

Gillespie Barn, 1257 Highway Iowa 92, Winterset (Madison County) -Barn was built in 1874 by W. F. George. The property has been in the same family since 1870. It is located on Old Bluff Road which carried early settlers to Council Bluffs.

McBroom - Hargis Barn, 1218 Highway 169, Winterset (Madison County)-Barn is five miles south of I-80 Adel, De Soto, Winterset exit) on U.S. Highway 169 - Article in Madison County paper (1884) discussed this barn, “It would be the largest barn in this part of the county.” It has a wooden track, post and beam, pegs and was designed by I.F. Carter of De Soto.”

Oswald Barn, 1071 Harken Hills Drive, Osceola (Clarke County) - From I-35 in Osceola, take U.S. Highway 34 east for about ½ mile. Turn onto Harken Hills Drive (on the south side U.S. Highway 34) and follow to the barn - Beef barn was designed in the 1930s and can be converted into a show pavilion to seat over 700. Pure -bred Angus were developed there by Dr. C.R. Harken, Osceola physician. J.C. Penney often visited the farm. The barn continues to be in use 365 days a year by High Point Genetics.

Full tour details can be found online at https://iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tour/2023-fall For questions, email iowabarnfoundation@gmail.com

The Iowa Barn Foundation will have a record eight round barns on the tour this year, which are the most unique and rare type of barns built in the state. Out of the approximately 200,000 barns built in Iowa, only 250 were round (including octagonal and multi-sided) representing just 0.13% of all barns built. Only 74 of Iowa’s round barns remain standing today, and many in various states of disrepair. Each of the eight restored round barns on the tour are unique works of art, and visitors will leave with a great appreciation of the craftsmanship that went into their construction.

The largest surge in Iowa round barn construction came in 1910-1920 after they were promoted by universities, including Iowa State, for dairy operations. The circular interior layout was pitched as more efficient for the farmer to work in a circular pattern, accentuated by a central silo. Material efficiency in construction and greater structural stability were also key advantages cited. The enthusiasm for these barns was short-lived. Many of the efficiency claims were largely overstated and offset by more complicated and expensive construction methods. Construction largely ended as the 1920s came to a close.

Founded in 1997, The Iowa Barn Foundation is dedicated to preserving Iowa’s rural agricultural buildings. The all-volunteer statewide organization is organized as a 501(c)(3) Iowa non-profit. The primary mission of the Iowa Barn Foundation is to educate the public about the significance and importance of Iowa’s barns through the Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine and our Barn Tours. It raises money to provide barn rehabilitation or restoration matching grants to help property owners restore their barns. In addition, property owners who use their own funds to restore or rehabilitate barns that would otherwise qualify for a matching grant, are eligible to receive an Iowa Barn Foundation Award of Distinction. For more information on the Iowa Barn Foundation, visit their website at https://iowabarnfoundation.org/ and Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/IowaBarnFoundation.