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All-State Barn Tour
Each year, the Iowa Barn Foundation holds its most important event, the All-State Barn Tour. The tour features restored barns that have received Iowa Barn Foundation matching grants, along with other barns whose owners have received an Award of Distinction for restoring their barns using their own money. The 2001 All-State Barn Tour was the first of it’s kind in the United States.
The All-State Barn Tour allows visitors to view some of the most important and historic barns in Iowa. The Wegener barn is a huge turn-of-the-century double gambrel barn still an integral part of the Wegener familys farming operation. The Handsakers huge square barn, built in 1870 on their farm, which was homesteaded in 1850, was recently restored with an Iowa Barn Foundation matching grant. This barn, like the others, has been restored from its limestone foundation all the way up to the cupola.
The All-State Barn Tour has been organized to encourage barn preservation in Iowa, to teach young people about Iowas rich agricultural heritage, and to renew pride in this heritage. The tour is arranged so that you can go from barn to barn on your own, as time and distances permit. During the tour, tour maps are available at each barn. At many barns, 4-H members sell lemonade and cookies. Other barns have special displays. In addition, visitors have the opportunity to join the Iowa Barn Foundation if they are not already a member.
The barns on tour are typical of Iowa barns that have served farmers well. These restored barns illustrate how barns can be brought back to their original glory. Some of the barns listed below were featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. Others
have been featured in newspapers such as the Des Moines Register and Iowa Farmer Today.

Allamakee County |
 Kruger barn, 310 Northline Drive, Waukon (Allamakee County). Directions: From Decorah, travel east on Highway 9 to the T intersection with Highway 51 (one mile east of Pole Line Road). Turn left on Apple Road (gravel) and go one mile north to Northline Drive, and then turn right. Farm is first on the left.
This large dairy barn was built in 1915 and has been in family for 50 years. A photo of the barn before restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Marlene Fenstermann, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Kruger barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Dougherty barn, 1362 Pole Line Road, Waukon (Allamakee County). Directions: From Postville, go north on Highway 51 to Highway 9. Turn left on Highway 9 and go one mile to Pole Line Road. Turn right and go two miles north. Farm is on the west side of the road.
The Dougherty barn was built around 1900 and has redwood silo inside. The 50- x 70-foot barn has a limestone foundation. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Marlene Fenstermann, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Dougherty barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Black Hawk County |
| Platz barn, 330 W. Bennington Road, Waterloo (Black Hawk County). Directions: Five miles north of Waterloo off US 63 is Bennington Road. Travel west ¼ mile.
The 100 year-old Platz barn has heavy beams supported with pegs and held together with wooden dowels.
The Platz barn was featured on the 2003 and 2004 All-State Barn Tour. |
Boone County |
Uetz barn, 2011 180th Street, Boone (Boone County). Directions: The barn is 1 mile east of Highway 17 and 1 mile north of county road E26 (at the NE corner of 180th St. and U Ave.)
The Uetz barn was built in 1928 by William G. Smalley, a well-known Boone County farmer, and his three sons; Layton, Virgil, and Howard. Howard was born on this farm in 1907. He and his wife Fern moved back onto the place in 1947, when William retired, and lived here until 1979 when they moved to town. They still live in Boone, Howard just turned 96 on the 4th of July. The Uetz barn was featured in the article Rebirth of a farmyard in American Acreage magazine.
The barn is 36' wide, 50' long, and approximately 45' high. The barn was originally used to house dairy cattle (on the south side) and four teams of horses (on the north side). The barn has a huge hay loft and still has the original manure removal system that runs on an overhead track. At the moment the barn is home to a small herd of fainting goats (the Uetzs barnyard weed control system). The barns foundation is good and straight. The barn was well built, using cross-bracing all the way up. A photo of the barn prior to restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Uetz barn was featured on the 2003, 2004, , 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Bremer County |
Pickar barn, 1538 Viking Avenue, Sumner (Bremer County). Directions: From Sumner, travel west 1.5 miles on Highway 93, then one mile south on V56.
This large Bremer County barn was painstakingly restored over three years by David Pickar. David had worked diligently on the barn for two years when someone from Dan Marinos chain of restaurants stopped by and asked to buy the barns wood! David and Ruth have received an Iowa Barn Foundation Award of Distinction for the project. This barn was featured in the Fall 2000 edition of the Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Pickar barn was first featured on the Northeast Iowa Barn Tour and Picnic in 2002, and on the All-State Barn Tour in 2005, 2006, and 2007. |
Buena Vista County |
Mickelson barn, 5126 Highway 71, Storm Lake (Buena Vista County). Directions: Located 1 ¾ miles north of the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 71 on the east side of the road.
This huge (100 x 70 x 45) and distinct barn was built in 1901 to house 22 work horses. Owner Roger Mickelson has lived on the family farm for 74 years. A photo of the barn prior to restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Mickelson barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Youngberg barn, 4886 220th Avenue, Albert City (Buena Vista County). Directions: From Albert City, travel 2 miles north on M14. Travel west 1 mile on 490th Street to 220th Avenue.
This classic Iowa barn was built in 1911 and has always been used in farming. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Youngberg barn was featured on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
  MoonHill barn, 774 480th Street, Linn Grove (Buena Vista County). Directions: Five miles west of Rembrant off Highway 71 on C25 and five miles on black top south of Linn Grove.
The lovely MoonHill barn was built between 1890 and 1900 by Norwegian immigrants. The 3000 square foot barn held working horses, pigs and milking cows for well over 75 years. The original milking parlor still stands intact. The barn had a McDonald Pitless Scale, manufactured by the Moline Plow Company, that was outside the barn for weighing grain, hay and livestock. It was often used by the local community. Today the barn is a testament as to what elbow grease can do! A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it). (Award of Distinction)
The barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Calhoun County |
 Ellis barn, 2370 Fletcher Avenue, Lytton (Calhoun County). Directions: The barn is 3 miles east and 2 ½ miles north of Lytton.
Known to area residents as the big red barn, this landmark dairy barn was built in 1918. It is 40 feet tall to the eaves. It has 3 x 12-inch A-frame timbers in excess of 30 feet in length. The Ellis family raises Red Rock Arabian horses. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn before restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Ellis barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Carroll County |
 Renze barn, 22695 Highway 71, Carroll (Carroll County). Directions: 3 miles south of Carroll on Highway 71.
The Renze barn overlooks a tranquil pond on a farmstead once known as the Old Mattes Place. The barn has hip-roof rafters. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Renze barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Cass County |
Anstey barn, 71717 710th Street, Massena (Cass County). Directions: Travel 4 miles south of Massena on Highway 48, turn right on G61 and go 4 miles. Turn left and go ½ mile. The farm is on the west side of the road.
In 1878, George Anstey, who emigrated from England, bought 880 acres in Cass County and began raising purebred Herefords. By 1927 every major Hereford show winner in the US was a product of an Anstey Hereford. The Anstey barn, built in 1920, is still used in the family's Hereford cattle business. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Anstey barn was featured on the 2001, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Cerro Gordo County |
| Blake barn, 11670 300th Street, Mason City (Cerro Gordo County). Directions: Travel north on Highway 65 out of Mason City 2 miles. Turn left on County Road B20. Travel 4 miles west. The farm is located on the north side of the road.
This barn, a representative of Depression era barns, has been lovingly restored.
The Blake barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Yezek barn, 22881 Vine Avenue, Plymouth (Cerro Gordo County). Directions: From Rock Falls, go 1 mile north on the county blacktop. The barn is on the east side of the road.
This 32 x 52 barn with metal cupola was built in 1930 and is one of the only barns standing in the area. The barn was in vulnerable condition when the Yezeks started the restoration project, as shown in the photo to the left (click the photo to enlarge it). The barn now stands proud showing passersby what can be done with determination. A photo of the barn after restoration, is shown in the photo on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Yezek barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Chickasaw County |
 Blazek barn, 1755 Ridgeway Boulevard, Lawler (Chickasaw County). Directions: Turn off Highway 24 into Lawler. Go north through Lawler to V46. Follow V46 three miles to farm.
The Blazek barn is a distinguished large barn with a drive-through center where teams of horses pulled and unloaded full loads of hay. Barn dances were held in mow in early 1900s.
The barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Clarke County |
Redman barn, 2034 205th Avenue, Osceola (Clarke County). Directions: From I-35, take US 34 west 2 ½ miles.
The Redman barn was built in 1916 and has been owned by two different families. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by James Powell, is shown in the
photo on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Redman barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Oswald-Harken barn, 1074 Harken Hills Drive, Osceola (Clarke County). Directions: Exit I-35 at Osceola (US 34). Continue through town on US 34. Barn is about a fourth mile beyond town on the right.
Long-time Osceola physician, Dr. C.R. Harken, used this barn in his purebred Angus operation. The cattle barn, built circa 1935, could be converted into a show pavilion to seat 1000. Angus breeders from around the country, including J.C. Penney, attended shows in the barn. The Oswalds use the barn in their farming operation.
A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by James Powell, is shown in the photo on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Oswald-Harken barn was featured on the 2006 All-State Barn Tour. |
Clayton County |
  Morine barn, 29202 Empire Road, Elkader (Clayton County). Directions: Empire Road T's off to the northwest from Highway 13, five miles south of Elkader and nine miles north of Strawberry Point. Follow Empire Road up the hill to first lane on right. Lane is first exit after the road comes out of the cut at the top of the hill. The lane is grass-centered one-way track with a slope off each side. Limited parking. No RV's.
The Morine barn is a 32x44 basement barn built by Fred Stahl in 1909. The barn is located in a very scenic area, across the road from the Osborne Nature Center. The Stahl family was very helpful in providing Charles and Sydney Morine with photos and information about the barns early years. The year 1909 is painted on the cupola and is visible in the oldest photos of the barn. The barn foundation is made of native limestone blocks.
The poured concrete silo on the South side of the barn was built some time around 1948. The interior of the basement has never been reworked. Most of the original wooden cow stanchions and horse stalls still exist. There are many unique gates and doors in the interior. There is a chute from the upstairs grain bin area down to the center isle of the basement that ends in a restored feed box. The inside stairs are original, and terminate at the upper level through a house type structure used to keep the hay from falling down the stairwell.
During the pasture season cattle have access to two sides of the barn but are not allowed into it. The only purpose served by the building today is for storage and the upper level floor has had supports added to allow it to safely hold a tractor.
Charles and Sydney Morine received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation for funding the restoration of the barn themselves. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Morine barn was featured on the 2005 All-State Barn Tour. |
Dallas County |
 Voss barns, 1025 Pitzer Road, Dexter (Dallas County). Directions: Take exit 100 off of I-80 (Redfield/Dexter). Travel south to US6/County P53. Travel 1 mile, cross the railroad, and you will see the barns.
The Voss farm is known as the Two Barn Farm. The barns were built between 1900-1910 with tongue and groove and pin and dowel construction.
Photos of the barns after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge
then).
The Voss barns were featured on the 2004 All-State Barn Tour. |
Purviance barn, 2165 H Avenue, Minburn (Dallas County). Directions: From the intersection of Highways 44 and 169, turn west on 44 and go 6 miles to H Avenue. Turn north for 2 ½ miles.
Local craftsmen built this historic family farm in 1913 for Robert Purviance, a prominent Dallas County farmer. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Purviance barn was featured on the 2004, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Decatur County |
Kosman barn, 10611 240th Avenue, Weldon (Decatur County). Directions: From Osceola, travel south on US 69 for 10 miles to Clarke-Decatur Street. Turn east and go one mile to first gravel road. Turn south. Barn is second house on the west side.
The Kosman barn, built in 1907, was used for horses, cattle and hay storage. The owners would invite all of their neighbors to large barn dances. The Kosman family purchased the farm in the winter of 1972. Since that time, the barn has been used for milking, calving and farrowing. The loft of the barn was used for storage of small straw and hay bales on one side, while the other side has served as a basketball court and a place for other fun games with the neighborhood children. Today, the loft is used primarily for storage and the stalls below are home to 4-H animals and bottle calves. A photo of the barn prior to restoration and a photo of the barn after restoration, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Kosman barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Delaware County |
 Dighton barn, 3344 120th Avenue, Coggon (Delaware County). Directions: From Coggon, travel west out of town on paved road for one mile to Quality Ridge Road. Turn north for 1 1/2 miles.
Robert Kirkpatrick and his wife Jennie homesteaded this farm in 1905 and raised five children. In 1913, Robert went to a horse sale in Missouri where he saw an impressive round barn. Robert measured that barn, counted every brick, and sketched a building plan. In 1914 he began construction of his own round barn. The barn is made of hollow clay tile that was shipped by rail from Chicago to Coggon, and then hauled to the farm by horse and wagon. The barn, which cost $1995.00 to build, was completed in 1917.
In 2004 Dave Dighton, the grandson of Robert Kirkpatrick and current owner of the farm, selected Don and John Heffernen to restore the barn, after interviewing six different contractors. The Dighton barn was restored as part of the Iowa Barn Foundations Adopt-a-Barn program. In April 2005, the Robert Kirkpatrick round barn, also known as the Dighton round barn was added to the Iowa State Register of Historic Places and to the National Register of Historic Places. A photo of the barn prior to restoration and a photo of the barn after restoration
taken by Ken Dunker, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Dighton barn was featured on the 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Fiddelke barn, 1337 Candle Road, Manchester 52057 (Delaware County). Directions:
The Fiddelke barn was raised on July 4, 1849, the same day a barn was raised near the Stagecoach Inn—one barn in the forenoon and one in the afternoon. Interior beams and supports are original to 1849—wooden peg construction and hand-hewn timbers. (Award of Distinction) A photo of the barn prior to restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Fiddelke barn was featured on the 2006 All-State Barn Tour. |
Des Moines County |
Bartelt barn, 16296 Highway 61, Mediapolis (Des Moines County). Directions: The barn is seven miles south of Mediapolis.
The owners of the Bartelt barn saw it falling into disrepair and subsequently bought and restored it. It is peg and post basement barn with a limestone foundation.
The barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Dubuque County |
Becker barn, 15346 Becker Lane, Dyersville (Dubuque County). Directions: From Dyersville, travel North on Highway 136 for three miles. Go down a steep hill. At base of the hill, turn right onto Floyd Road. Follow Floyd Road East one mile. Take the first left. The farm is second one-at end of the lane.
The Beckers settled this farm in 1850. The farm has remained in the family ever since. The Becker barn was built in 1890 with pine timbers from Pine Hollow near Luxemburg, Iowa. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Michael McConnell, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Becker barn was featured on the 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Emmett County |
Jensen barn, 2410 560th Avenue, Ringsted (Emmett County). Directions: Travel 1 mile east of Ringsted on blacktop. Then travel 1/8 mile south on P12. The farm is on the left.
The Jensen barn, with its attached milk house was built in 1938. The track and carriage in the hayloft is still used to lift hay into the barn.
The Jensen barn was featured on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Franklin County |
 Bennett barn, 1664 Eagle Avenue, Latimer (Franklin County). Directions: Take I-35 to State Highway 3. Turn west on 3 and go 1 mile to Eagle Avenue. Turn north and go 2 ½ miles.
This handsome clay tile barn, with round laminated rafter roof and matching silo, was built in 1950 by Henning Construction Company of Latimer, Iowa, for a dairy herd. The cow stanchions have drinking cups and there is a unique chain lift manure carrier. Butter was once made in the barn. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Bennett barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Klousia barn, 1766 165th St., Hampton (Franklin County). Directions: From the intersection of Highway 3 and Highway 65 in Hampton, travel 2 miles East, then 2 miles North, then ¼ mile West. The barn is on the north side of the road.
The builder of the Klousia barn copied a Wisconsin dairy barn when he built it in 1888. The barn has a thick limestone foundation, wooden pegged beams, three grain bins, an upper level haymow, and aisles large enough for a team of horses to move hay and grain into the barn. The barn was proudly placed on the most prominent position on the farm. There was room for 10 horses. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Klousia barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Artley barn, 1475 Killdeer Avenue, Hampton (Franklin County). Directions: Travel four miles west of Hampton on Highway 3, then 3/4 miles north on Killdeer.
The Artley barn was built in early 1900s by Amos Artley. Bob Artley, rural artist and writer, grew up on the farm and has featured it in his drawings. The barn is featured on the cover of his book Once Upon A Farm. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it). (Award of Distinction)
The Artley barn was featured on the 2005 and 2006 All-State Barn Tour. |
Dodd barn, 1854 40th Street, Ackley (Franklin County). Directions: Travel 4 miles west of Ackley on Highway 57. Turn north on S 55 for 2 miles to 40th Street. Go ½ mile west.
The barn was built by Ernest Aldinger, one of three Aldinger brothers who built farms within a mile of each other.
A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the
right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Dodd barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Grundy County |
 Welter crib barn, 13725 X Avenue, Cedar Falls (Grundy County). Directions: Travel 5 miles west on 27th Street from the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls to X Avenue. Turn left (south) on X Avenue, and the Welter farm is the first farm on your right.
The Welter crib barn was built in 1947 as a "state of the art structure." The original blueprints were designed by the School of Agricultural Engineering Department at Iowa State University, with a working elevator system inside to handle grain storage. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the
right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Welter crib barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Guthrie County |
Hindraker barn, 2698 Jaguar Trail, Guthrie Center (Guthrie County). Directions: From Guthrie Center, go west on 44 for 3 miles. Turn left on Jaguar and go 4 ½ miles south.
The original barn was built at the turn of the century. It burned down in 1931, after which the present barn was built. A photo of the Hindraker barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Hindraker barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Caltrider barn, 3016 Juniper Avenue, Casey (Guthrie County). Directions: Exit I-80 at Casey and take Whitepole Road to Highway 25. Turn north for three miles to 310th . Turn left, and travel four miles west to Juniper Avenue. The farm is ¾ mile north on east side of road.
The Caltrider farm has been in same family since 1883. The Caltrider barn was built in 1917. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the
right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Caltrider barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Hamilton County |
 Thurmond-Adams barn, 1100 Evergreen Drive, Williams (Hamilton County). Directions: From D 25 (Old 20) south of Williams, turn north on R 75. Turn right on 4th, right on Spruce, and right on Evergreen.
The owner recently inherited this old 36 x 63 tongue and groove barn, with two-inch vertical siding, and two acres from his uncle. A photo of the barn prior to restoration,
and a photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge
them).
The Thurmond-Adams barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Hardin County |
| Barrett barn, 13312 County Highway S56, Ackley (Hardin County). Directions: Take US 20 to the east side of Ackley. Then go 2 ¼ miles south on S56. The barn is on the east side of road.
Bohle Willems and his neighbors built this unique dairy barn in 1950.
The Barrett barn was featured on the 2001 All-State Barn Tour. |
Sparks barn, 15737 E. Avenue, Alden (Hardin County). Directions: Take Alden/Buckeye exit off US 20. Go north to D25. Go west to E.
G. Herman, 1923, Dubuque, is painted on west inside wall of this very large barn. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the
right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Sparks barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Harrison County |
Barry barn, 3043 Easton Trail, Woodbine (Harrison County). Directions: Go west on Easton Trail (F32) from Woodbine for 1 mile.
Charles and Anna Nicely owned the farm when the sweet livestock and hay barn was built in 1936. The barn, a restored jewel, is a Loess Hills landmark. The Barry family restored the barn to house their donkeys. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Barry barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Finken barn, 3005 335th Street, Logan (Harrison County). Directions: Travel west on I-80 to I-680. Proceed west to Exit 21 which is L-34 (Beebeetown). Turn east (F-66) for 1.5 miles.
The land has been in the family since 1892, and the Finken barn was built in 1927. The barns roof has laminated rafters which were raised into place with gin pole and horses. Each rafter is five boards thick bolted together and cut in curved shape. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Finken barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Howard County |
 Ellingson barn, 19987 Timber Avenue, Cresco (Howard County). Directions: Farm is located between New Hampton and Cresco. Travel 14 miles north from New Hampton on Hwy 63 to B22 (Jerico blacktop), and turn right. Travel 6 miles to Stanley Ave. Turn left on Stanley Ave. (gravel road). Note: When you cross from Chickasaw County into Howard County, Stanley Avenue becomes Timber Avenue. Travel 3 miles to the intersection of Timber Avenue and 200 St. Farm is on the Northwest corner of the intersection.
The Ellingson barn was built in 1929 and was used as a dairy barn with stalls for draft horses. One unique feature is its hand sawn, curved, and laminated roof beams. It can be seen from Dr. Norman Borlaug’s farm, which is only half a mile away. The family farm has been beautifully restored, with nine out of ten original buildings still intact, and an orchard located back in its original site. The barn is being used to raise baby bottle calves, feeder cattle, and winter two pet miniature horses. A photo of the barn prior to restoration and a photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Marlene Fenstermann, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Ellingson barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Humboldt County |
McBurney barn, 2550 Gotch Park Road, Humboldt (Humboldt County). Directions: At the Westside elevator, turn right. Go to Gotch Park Road and take the black top 2 ½ miles.
Stephen Taft, who founded Springvale which became Humboldt, owned the land on which this barn stands. In 1874 he sold the land to Lorbeers who built the house and barn, both of which are still in use. The barn was built in 1890.
A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by James Powell, is shown in the
photo on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The McBurney barn was featured on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Mandasgar-Johnson barn, 1860 Texas Avenue, Hardy (Humboldt County). Directions: From Hardy, travel one mile south of elevator and post office. Travel one mile west and ¾ mile south. Barn is on east side of road.
The owners beautifully restored the old buildings on family farm and received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by James Powell, is shown in the photo on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Mandasgar-Johnson barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Ida County |
Conover barn, 5315 190th Street, Holstein (Ida County). Directions: From Holstein travel 1 ½ miles west on US 20. Turn south on L67 and go 3 miles. Turn left on 190th. It is the first farm on north side of road.
The Conover barn was built around 1900 and used by C.B. Conover and his son, C.B. Jr., for their outstanding Belgian draft horses. Harry Linn, Iowa's secretary of agriculture, gave draft horse demonstrations here. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Conover barn was featured on the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Jackson County |
 Delaney barn, 23477 Bellevue-Cascade Road, La Motte (Jackson County). Directions:
This lovely farm is known as the Sprank farm. The large barn, with wooden peg construction, was built around 1900, and the smaller barn was built in 1940. A photo of each barn after restoration, taken by Michael McConnell, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Delaney barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Clasen barn, 25219 200th Street, Bellevue (Jackson County). Directions: From Maquoketa travel north on Highway 61 to Otter Creek. Travel east on D61 (Bellevue-Cascade Road) to Cottonville. Travel south on Y61 to 200th street and travel east 200 yds. The farm is the first on the right.
This wider-than-usual barn, built in 1912, has bark on many of its support timbers. In addition, the barns top hip is longer then the lower hip which is something you dont see in many barns.
A photo of the barn after restoration, and a photo showing the bark-covered timbers, taken by Michael McConnell, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Clasen barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
  Stromeyer barn, 37647 Iron Bridge Road, Spragueville (Jackson County). Directions: From Maquoketa, travel East on Highway 64 for 14 miles. Turn left on H 113 to Spragueville. At the stop sign in Spragueville, turn left onto Iron Bridge Road and travel two miles. Or, take Highway 62 north out of Maquoketa to Iron Bridge Road turnoff south of Andrew. Travel nine miles on Iron Bridge Road.
The 54x72 Stromeyer barn is 38 feet tall with hay hoods on both ends. The barn was designed and built by William F.H. Stromeyer and his two brothers, Henry and Otto, in 1902 out of native cottonwood trees that were floated down the Maquoketa river. The barn has 12 milking stanchions that were used until the 1970s when milking was discontinued. The barn originally had a lean-to on the south side, but this was removed in 1950 and replaced by a 20 foot extension to the barn. Today the barn is used for hay and straw storage and occasionally, some beef cattle are kept inside.
The Stromeyer family received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation for funding the restoration of the barn themselves. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Stromeyer barn was featured on the 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Defries barn, 17929 232nd Avenue, Maquoketa (Jackson County). Directions: Travel north out of Andrew on Highway 62, then left on 250th Avenue (three miles) and left again on 232nd. The farm is on the left.
The Defries barn on the Doris and Jack Dyas Farm, was built in 1885 by A.B. DeFries whose family settled in the area in the 1850s. The 47 x 84-foot barn has post and beam pegged construction. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Defries barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Gehlen barn, Main Street, St. Donatus (Jackson County). Directions:
This magnificent three-story limestone barn, one of the oldest (arguably built in 1839) in Iowa, sits in the middle of this historic Luxembourgish village. (Award of Distinction) A photo of the barn prior to restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the
right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Gehlen barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
  Michels barn, 39016 308th Street, Bellevue (Jackson County). Directions: Go 3 miles north of Bellevue on Highway 52, and turn right onto 308th Street. Barn is at the first farm on the left.
This 30 x 50-foot pegged barn was built in 1926 and has been in the same family for three generations. The wainscot siding used on the barn became unaffordable during the Depression years and World War II era. Glass balls in the lightning rods are the rare color of lavender. (Award of Distinction) A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Jasper County |
 Hanson barn, 11590 North 87th Avenue West, Mingo (Jasper County). Directions: At the junctions of Highways 65, 330, and 117, continue northeast on 330. Go 1 mile to F 17 and turn east for .4 of a mile to W. 122nd St. N., and turn right. Go .4 of a mile to 87th Av. W and turn left. The barn is a little over .7 of a mile on the left side of the road.
According to the Jasper County assessors office, the original 34 x 60 Hanson barn was built some time around 1901. Some of the hand-hewn support posts date from the 1880s, so it is possible that the barn was built then and remodeled over time.
A hired man that worked on the Hanson farm in the 1940s said the barn was always referred to as the horse barn and was the home to two teams of horses and the milk cow of that time. The barn has been home to the Hansons 4-H calves, sheep, feeder pigs, and milk cow. Today, it is the home to Nola Hansons daughters 4-H calves and her many cats.
Because of the weight of the roof and weak joints, the mortise and tenon joints were starting to pull apart and the structure was starting to lean to one side and the south end was coming apart. As a part of the barns restoration, 3/4" steel rodsets were installed across to haymow to pull the structure together and a 24' steel and wood-sandwiched beam was installed to pull the end of the barn back in. The Hansons also removed three layers of old roofing and replaced it with new 40-year shingles. New trim was added around the windows and most of the doors and battens were also replaced.
A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Hanson barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Slatkoski barn, 4724 W 92nd Street South, Colfax (Jasper County). Directions:
Arthur Slatkoski, 85, is very proud of this well-kept barn on his farm. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by James Powell, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it). (Award of Distinction)
The Slatkoski barn was featured on the 2006 All-State Barn Tour. |
Johnson County |
| Ulch barn, 4672 Sutliff Road Northeast, Solon (Johnson County). Directions: On the north edge of Solon, travel east for 1 mile on Sutliff Road.
This barn, built around 1905, is unique in that it is very primitive. The barn is still used in farming.
The Ulch barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Kossuth County |
Gade barn, 301 230th Street, Whittemore (Kossuth County). Directions: From Algona go west to the corner of US 18 and State 15. Go north 1 mile on 15, then east on gravel and down a hill. The farm is on the left.
Arnold and Martha Gade bought this farm in 1921 for $3000. They raised their family on the farm and moved off in 1969 selling it to their oldest child, Wayne. It is now owned by their oldest son, Craig and his wife, Deb. The barn has a special room where cream was separated. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Gade barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Wegener barn, 109 320th Street, Fenton (Kossuth County). Directions: The barn is ½ mile north of Fenton, Iowa on Highway 15. It is the first farm heading west.
Neighbors helped to build this magnificent double gambrel barn for a farmers widow in 1915. Ed Dennert was in charge of the crew. The barn is still used in farming today. A photo of the barn prior to restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Wegener barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
| Dreyer barn, 102 310th Street, Fenton (Kossuth County). Directions: Take B29 off Highway 15 just before Fenton and turn west. It is the first farm heading west.
The farm has been in the family since 1900; barn was built in 1903 and used as dairy barn until 1944. There is 1000-gallon wooden water storage tank in the hayloft and the barns manure unloading system intact.
The Dreyer barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Louisa County |
Cutkomp barn, 22682 120th Street, Columbus Junction (Louisa County). Directions: Travel south on Highway 92 from Columbus Junction to Columbus City. From Columbus City, travel south. The road (T Avenue) becomes gravel. Make the S turn and go straight 2 miles to 120th Street. Turn left (east), and you will see the Cutkomp barn (the first barn on the north).
The Cutkomp barn was originally built by Lewis Cutkomp in 1911. Native lumber was harvested on the place for the barn and put together with wooden pegs. Lewis Cutkomp bought the farm in the late 1800s, and it has remained in the family. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Cutkomp barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Madison County |
 Gillespie barn, 1257 Highway 92, Winterset (Madison County).
This lovely barn was built in 1874 by W.W. George, great grandfather of Cecil Gillespie, the current owner. The farm has been in the same family since 1870. The barn, with wooden pegged beams and limestone foundation is located on Old Bluff Road, which carried early settlers to Council Bluffs. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Gillespie barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
McBroom-Hargis barn, 1218 Highway 169, Winterset (Madison County). Directions: Barn is five miles south of I-80 (Adel, De Soto, Winterset exit).
Article in Madison County paper (1884) wrote about 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. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The McBroom-Hargis barn was featured on the 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Beeler barn, 2569 140th Street, Van Meter (Madison County). Directions: From DeSoto, go south on Highway 169. Turn east on 130th Street to stop sign. Then go south on Prairieview Avenue and finally east on 140th Street.
The Beeler barn is in what was a strong German settlement. The barn was built by the Burger brothers, one of whom became the first county agent in Iowa.
The Beeler barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Marshall County |
Schmidt barns, 3395 Knapp Avenue, Laurel (Marshall County). Directions: From Newton, Iowa, travel north on Highway 14 for 11 miles to a stop sign. Travel north 1 mile, then east for 1 mile, and then north 2 miles.
Two barns have been restored on this lovely farmstead. A piece of limestone in one barns footing reveals it was built in 1905. The second barn, built in 1938, has unique trusses. A photo of the barns after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Schmidt barns were featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Pfantz barn, 210 4th Avenue NE., State Center (Marshall County). Directions: From US 30, travel into State Center. Fourth Street is on north side of railroad tracks. Barn is behind Victorian house.
The unique Pfantz barn was built in 1902 for Pfantzs great-grandfather, a well-known horse broker. The barn has such unique features as handmade screens and a milk cellar. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Pfantz barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
  Dobbin barn, 2551 Brown Avenue, State Center (Marshall County). Directions: From State Center, go west on US 30 one mile to Cooper Avenue. Turn south, and go 1.5 miles. At 255th Street turn right. Barn is about 0.7 mile west.
The wonderful Dobbin round barn was built by the Dobbin family in 1917. This was a pre-cut structure designed and made to order by the Gordon Van Tine Company of Davenport, Iowa for $6000. Carpenters like Ike Ingersol and Amos Thompson assembled the numbered pieces into the 65-foot diameter barn with silo in the middle. It has large, round cupola. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it). (Award of Distinction)
The Dobbin barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Buck barn, 1271 285th Street, State Center (Marshall County). Directions: From State Center, go west on US 30 one mile to Cooper Avenue. Go 4.5 miles south to 285th Street. Turn left on gravel. Barn is at first place on left.
The Buck barn is an example of how a potential tear-down can be turned into a jewel. It has a wonderful cupola. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Buck barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Mills County |
| Plumer barn, 51588 US 275, Glenwood (Mills County). Directions: From Highways 92 and 275 in Council Bluffs, travel south 10 miles to the farmstead.
The farm was bought by Johann Plumer for $1.25 per acre in 1851. The farm house was a stage coach station for weary travelers; tired horses rested in the barn. The Plumer barn was built in 1890s.
The Plumer barn was featured on the 2003 All-State Barn Tour. |
Kochersperger barn, 64094 US 59, Emerson (Mills County). Directions: Four miles south of Emerson on Highway 59.
Jacob Kochersperger farm has been in the family since 1870. Barn was built in 1941. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Stan Allen, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Kochersperger barn was featured on the 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Mitchell County |
Rockafellow barn, 4484 Echo Avenue, St. Ansgar (Mitchell County). Directions: Go north out of St. Ansgar on US 218 for 2 miles. Turn left at Echo Avenue.
This beautiful bank barn, with a limestone foundation, was built in 1877 for horses and cattle. The timber was framed with wooden pegs. It is unusual to have a bank barn in northern Iowa. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration, is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Rockafellow barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
O'Brien County |
 Ascherl barn, 4680 McKinley, Granville (O'Brien County). Directions: From Granville, travel 1 mile east on Highway 10 and ½ mile south on gravel. The barn is on east side of road.
The Ascherl barn was built in 1914 by Mr. Ben Diers from Germantown. This landmark 60 x 54 barn is also known as the Hoefler barn.
A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Ascherl barn was featured on the 2003, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Battaglioli barn, 4819 480th Street, Granville (O'Brien County). Directions: From Granville, travel 2 miles east on Highway 10. Turn south on Monroe and travel 2 miles to 480th Street. Travel east ¼ of a mile.
The Battaglioli barn is one of the few large barns remaining in the area. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Battaglioli barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Osceola County |
 Jones barn, 2138 Verdin Avenue, Ocheyedan (Osceola County). Directions: From Highway 59, turn east on A34 (220th Street) and go about 7.5 miles to Verdin Avenue. Turn north on gravel. Barn is ˝ mile north on east side of road.
The Jones barn, built in 1917, is one of the largest barns in the area.
The barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Page County |
   Jensen barns, 307 W. Oak Street, Clarinda (Page County). Directions: Take Highway 2 to Highway 71. Bypass to Glenn Miller Avenue, to N. 160th Street, to Oak Street.
These barns were originally part of the Clarinda Mental Hospital and were later purchased by Dr. Kenneth Jensen. The original dairy barn, built in 1924, burned in 1934 and was replaced in 1935 by this grand barn. The heifer barn was built in 1924. Each horse had its own window in the one-of-a-kind three-story brick horse barn, built in 1905. Photos of all three barns, taken by Ken Dunker, are shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them). (Award of Distinction)
The Jensen barns were featured on the 2005 and 2006 All-State Barn Tour. |
Palo Alto County |
 Johnson barn, 5075 525th Avenue, Rolfe (Palo Alto County). Directions: From the southwest side of Rolfe, find 290th Street. Go 7 miles north to 400th (510th) Avenue. Go west ½ mile to 525th Avenue. Turn north and go ¼ mile.
This barn was built in 1950 by twins, Lovell and Rodell Long, for Fritz Johnsons cow and pig operation. Barn has laminated rafters constructed in eight layers. Rafters are set on a two-foot foundation to allow for the haymow. A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Johnson barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Pocahontas County |
 Ferguson barn, 40415 130th Avenue, Pocahontas (Pocahontas County). Directions: Barn is 3 ¾ miles straight north of Laurens on 130th Avenue.
The Ferguson farm is the second century farm north of Laurens, Iowa. The current farmhouse, built in 1922, replaced an earlier home. The 36x52 Ferguson barn and corn crib were built in 1912 from ceramic block with unique curved corners. The barn originally housed milk cows and draft horses. The concrete cow feeders still remain in the alley, but the gutters were filled with concrete in the 1960s. Later, the barn housed hogs and sheep. The barn is currently used for cattle and horses.
The 28x30 corn crib, which was built at the same time as the barn, originally had a round roof. The round roof was replaced by a simpler peaked roof in the 1940s. The crib was used for corn storage until the 1980s. The original elevator for the overhead oats storage still works.
A photo of the barn prior to restoration, and a photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photos to enlarge them).
The Ferguson barn was featured on the 2004 and 2005 All-State Barn Tour. |
Polk County |
Becker barn, 13081 NW 158th Avenue, Madrid (Polk County). Directions: Two mles south of Madrid on Highway 17, turn east for 1 mile on 158th Avenue.
This pleasant old barn was teetering to oblivion before it was recently restored. A photo of the barn after restoration is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Becker barn was featured on the 2004, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Helms barn, 16127 142nd (Highway 17), Madrid (Polk County). Directions: One mile south of Madrid on the east side of the road.
Original buildings enrich this historic farmstead settled by Charles Helms at the turn-of-the-century. Charles, his wife, Mary Ellen, and two children lived in the plastered chicken house until the lovely prairie-style farmhouse was built. Owner Russell Helms, son of Charles and Mary Ellen, has gifted the farmstead and 80 acres to the Iowa Barn Foundation's Farm Conservancy initiative. A photo of the barn, taken by Don Poggensee, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Helms barn was featured on the 2005 All-State Barn Tour. |
Pottawattamie County |
| Ditmars barn, 19638 225th Street, Council Bluffs (Pottawattamie County). Directions: Take the Iowa Western exit off of Interstate 80 onto Highway 6. Travel east ½ mile on Highway 6. Turn north onto Hunt Avenue and follow the signs to Ditmars Orchard.
This barn was built in 1950 and was part of a dairy operation.
The Ditmars barn was featured on the 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Ringgold County |
Ramsey barn, east of Mount Ayr on Lesanville Road (Ringgold County). Directions: From Interstate 35, travel west on Highway 2 for 25 miles to Lesanville Road. (Lesanville Road is five miles west of Kellerton.) Turn north on Lesanville Road and travel ¼ mile.
Solomon Lesan, one of the first settlers in the county, obtained the farm from the government in 1855. Eventually there were several farmsteads owned by Lesans making up the village of Lesanville. The Lesanville Cemetery (1878) is 300 yards from the barn that is still in the family. The barn was featured in the article Iowa native restores ancestral farm in Iowa Farmer Today. A photo of the barn is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Ramsey barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
| McCaughey barn, Mount Ayr (Ringgold County). Directions: East of Mount Ayr on Highway 2 (1/2 mile west of Ramsey barn on south side of road).
Howard Lesan built this large 40 x80 barn in 1929 for his dairy, the first in Ringgold county. This barn replaced an earlier barn that was destroyed by fire.
The McCaughey barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Scott County |
Schneckloth crib, 23553 200th Avenue, Eldridge (Scott County). Directions: Exit US 61 at Exit 127. Go east on LeClaire Road 3 miles. Then go south on 200th 1 ½ miles.
Herbert Schneckloth, prominent Iowa farmer, whose family emigrated from Germany in 1854, built the landmark round crib in 1926. Work on the 50-feet in diameter structure was done with hand tools. The foundation was dug and poured by hand using a shovel and one-third of a bag of home mix at a time. Handmade forms were used to pour the concrete. The ventilation block tile and matching solid tile were brought from Adel by train and horse-drawn wagons. A photo of the crib after restoration, taken by Michael McConnell, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Schneckloth crib was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Zelle barn, 1503 Holland Street, Le Claire (Scott County). Directions: Take #306 exit off I-80. Turn left at lights (north) and go through Le Claire. Turn left on Holland Street. Continue up hill for 1.5 miles until blacktop ends. Drive is 100 feet on right.
The Zelle barn, located on a 19th century family farm, is one of the few barns left in Scott County.
The Zelle barn was first featured on the 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Shelby County |
Heflin barn, 837 Orange Road, Harlan (Shelby County). Directions: From the intersection of US 59 and State 44, go 4 miles east on 44 to Orange road. Then go 1 ¼ miles south. The farm is on the east side of the road.
Once there were several of these unique barns in the area, but this is the only one remaining. The barn, built in 1901 and featuring a roofline of four equidistant gabled sides, has been used by four generations of Heflins. A photo of the barn after restoration,
taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it). This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns and was also featured in the article Restored barn steals spotlight in Iowa Farmer Today.
The Heflin barn was featured on the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Wooster barn, 2435 2100th Street, Manning (Shelby County). Directions: From Irwin, take the highway east 5 miles; turn north on gravel for 1 mile and turn east for ¾ of a mile. From Manning, travel 7 miles south on Airport Road on the west side of town. Travel west for 1 ¾ miles.
Mr. Wooster's grandfather built this barn in 1896. It has always been used in the family farming operation and still is. A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Wooster barn was featured on the 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Probasco barn, 2017 Beech Road, Dunlap (Shelby County). Directions: The barn is located between Dunlap and Earling one mile south of Highway 37. From Dunlap, travel east on Highway 37 for 4.6 miles, then turn right (south) on Beech Road 0.2 miles to "T" in road; turn left (east) on Beech Road and follow for 1.2 miles to the first farmhouse and barn on the left (east) side of the road, turn left.
Barn built at turn-of-the-century is on land purchased by railroads in 1856. Barn is unique with horizontal double-ribbed drop siding and rough-hewn supporting beams.
A photo of the barn after restoration, taken by Ken Dunker, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Probasco barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Sioux County |
Roghair barn, 4242 430th St, Alton (Sioux County). Directions:
From Hospers angle south on Highway 60 for four miles; go one-half mile west
on 430th Street.The Roghair farm, purchased by the Roghair family in 1935, has a magnificent collection of carefully maintained original buildings, including 1911 summer kitchen and 1916 barn. This proud farm is still used for agriculture. (Award of Distinction)
The Roghair barn was featured on the 2006 and 2007 All-State Barn Tour. |
Story County |
Elliott-Rude barn, 25623 710th Avenue, Colo (Story County). Directions: Cross US 30 and US 65 at Colo and go south to the first gravel road. Turn east to the first gravel road. Then turn south to the farm.
This turn-of-the century barn, formerly known as the Mulcahey Pioneer Barn, was in extremely fragile condition when the owners bought the historic farmstead. The Elliot-Rude family moved back to Iowa from New York City, after searching for over a year to find the perfect Iowa farm. They call their farm Harmony Hill. It has taken over two years to restore the barn, which is the centerpiece of their organic farming business. This barn was featured in the Iowa Public Television Living in Iowa special, Saving Iowas Barns. A photo of the barn, courtesy of Iowa Public Television, is shown on the right (click the photo to enlarge it).
The Elliot-Rude barn was featured on the 2001 All-State Barn Tour. |
 Handsaker Barn, 65627 200th Street, Nevada (Story County). Directions: The barn is immediately southeast of Fernald, Iowa which i | |