Bicentennial Barns
To commemorate Indiana’s bicentennial in 2016, a group of agriculture professionals, artists and historians established the Bicentennial Barns project, a contest to find those barns that “represent the finest examples of architecture and stewardship.” The group hopes to celebrate the state’s agriculture heritage while engaging Hoosiers in the process.
Indiana residents can enter their barn for consideration through the project website, 200indianabarns.com. Barns must predate 1950 and be in relatively good condition to qualify. Entries will be whittled down to 200, and those entrants will receive a commemorative sign for their property. Photos of all the barn entries will be featured in a traveling exhibit.
Indiana artist Dorrel Harrison will award the top 10 entrants a handcrafted plaque. The Scottsburg resident is known throughout the state for his stunning replicas of Indiana barns on wooden plaques. Read more about his work at my-indiana-home.com/barns.
The Bicentennial Barns project also accepts stories and information about barns to post on its website. To read the stories and learn more about these historical treasures, visit 200indianabarns.com.
Jeanie Miller
December 12, 2015 at 9:00 am
I submitted my neighbor’s barn yesterday for the 200 bicentennial barns and had some trouble. Will I be notified or how will I know if you received it okay? It was for Mary Lou Rich.
Jessy Yancey
December 14, 2015 at 9:15 am
Hi Jeanie,
We aren’t affiliated with the bicentennial barns website – we’re just promoting it. However, it looks like you can email the coordinator, Betsy Jones, at betsykjones@yahoo.com. Hope this helps!
Jessy Yancey
editor, My Indiana Home
Rebecca Kruger
December 18, 2015 at 10:01 am
I have tried to enter our barn in the contest but have not received a confirmation that it went through. Could you please let me know if it is there? It is the Richard Crum barn, Michigantown (Clinton Co.)
Thanks for your help. BK
Rachel Bertone
December 29, 2015 at 8:54 am
Hi Rebecca,
We aren’t affiliated with the bicentennial barns website – we’re just promoting it. However, it looks like you can email the coordinator, Betsy Jones, at betsykjones@yahoo.com. Hope this helps!
Rachel Bertone
editor, My Indiana Home
Pamela Schwartz
October 4, 2017 at 11:38 am
Schwartz Dairy Farm in Bluffton, Indiana, has been in our family since 1936. Elmer Mossburg did the framing from the creek. Wood was from California, which my father-in-law, Max Schwartz, stated. My mother-in-law was 9 years old at the time. They had a lumber company to come out. There are still wooden pegs that can be seen. I didn’t know about the search till it was too late!! The barn is in Wells County on our property.