Documenting a barn in accordance with state and federal preservation standards is the highest compliment you can give to it!
Always a work in progress, the National Barn Alliance has been compiling a list of resources pertaining to the documentation and study of our nation’s historic barns and agricultural architecture. This list is organized by state and highlights those resources available to assist in barn survey, identification, and research.
Helpful links from federal agencies and academic institutions regarding topics such as barn repair and grant programs, rural heritage conservation, and agricultural history are also provided (see Other Amazing Resources at bottom of page). We have limited the choices below to SHPOs and other non-profit or educational resources that include information on historic barns and agriculture in America. The NBA also has a bibliography of barn books for those looking to take a deeper dive.
Please help us to keep this list accurate and functional. If you discover that a particular link is broken, notice a glaring mistake, or would like to suggest an additional resource, please contact us at info@barnalliance.org.
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STATE |
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE |
DESCRIPTION OF BARN TYPE(S)? | BARN &/OR FARM FEATURE GLOSSARY? |
SPECIFIC BARN SURVEY FORM? |
STUDIES ON HISTORIC FARM PROPERTIES? |
COMMENTS
|
| Alabama | Alabama Historical Commission | NO | Yes! Statewide Historic Context | |||
| Alaska | Alaska State Historic Preservation Office | YES, Upon Request | Survey database requires permission for access. | |||
| Arizona | Arizona State Historic Preservation Office | NO | ||||
| Arkansas | Arkansas Historic Preservation Program | YES, Upon Request |
C
| California | California State Parks’ Office of Historic Preservation (SHPO) | NO | YES | Historic Contexts are available for specific locations. Grants are available for surveys. | ||
| California-Nevada Barn Alliance | SELECT TYPES | |||||
| Colorado | History Colorado/Colorado Historical Society | YES | NO | |||
| Connecticut | Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation, Historic Barns Program | YES | YES | YES | Select grants available for barn preservation. |
D
| Delaware | Delaware State Historic Preservation Office | YES | YES | The survey manual requests that one use the “secondary building form” to detail barns and other farm buildings when a house (primary resource) is present. Several historic contexts available for agriculture in the state. | ||
| University of Delaware, Center for Historic Architecture and Design (CHAD) Digital Library | YES | YES | Studies of Agricultural PropertyTypes and documentation of notable farmstead & barns. |
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|
STATE |
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE |
DESCRIPTION OF BARN TYPE(S)? |
BARN &/OR FARM FEATURE GLOSSARY? |
SPECIFIC BARN SURVEY FORM? |
STUDIES ON HISTORIC FARM PROPERTIES? |
COMMENTS
|
| Florida | Florida Division of Historic Resources | NO |
G
| Georgia | Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (SHPO) | SELECT TYPES | NO | YES |
H
| Hawaii | State Historic Preservation Division (SHPO) | NO |
I
|
STATE |
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE |
DESCRIPTION OF BARN TYPE(S)? |
BARN &/OR FARM FEATURE GLOSSARY? |
SPECIFIC BARN SURVEY FORM? |
STUDIES ON HISTORIC FARM PROPERTIES? |
COMMENTS
|
| Idaho | Idaho Historical Society (SHPO) | SOME | NO | YES | Several agricultural contexts to support County-specific rural and agricultural resources listed in a catalog of NRHP resources | |
| Preservation Idaho’s Idaho Heritage Barns | SOME | YES | YES | Record & register your historic barn here!!! Also, “Barns of Southeast Idaho Driving Tour” brochure can be downloaded (has some info on barn types in the area) | ||
| Illinois | Illinois Historic Preservation Agency (SHPO)
IL Rural Survey 1986 – general information |
NO | GIS database is searchable and updates may be sent to the SHPO by public users | |||
| Landmarks Illinois (County-specific info in 2005 study “Barn Preservation: A Survey of IL Activity”) | YES | A report details barn surveys, adaptive re-use, and barn tours in the state (last updated in 2005) | ||||
| Rural Resources Survey: Will County, IL Survey Report | YES | YES | ||||
| Illinois Barn Alliance & Barn Keepers | YES | |||||
| Indiana | Department of Historic Preservation & Archaeology (SHPO) | YES | NO | |||
| Indiana Landmarks & Indiana Barn Foundation | Links available to rural preservation resources | |||||
| Iowa | State Historical Society of Iowa (SHPO)Iowa Preservation | NO | ||||
| Iowa Barn Foundation | A number of barn tours are available throughout the state, but no survey data |
K
| Kansas | Kansas Barn Alliance | YES | ||||
| Kansas Historical Society (SHPO) | YES | NO | YES! | see also: Shortridge article on Kansas barns | ||
| Kentucky | Kentucky Heritage Council (SHPO) | SOME | YES (upon request) | YES | Historic contexts: RHDI Survey of Marion and WashingtonCounties, Agricultural andDomestic Outbuildings in
Central and Western KY |
|
| Preservation Kentucky/Rural Heritage Development Initiative | Information on rural heritage development, barn tours, and preservation workshops. Links to SHPO contexts and forms |
L
| Louisiana | Louisiana Division of Historic Preservation (SHPO) | NO | There is a “Landscape Addendum” which appears to be intended for farmsteads |
M
|
STATE |
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE |
DESCRIPTION OF BARN TYPE(S)? |
BARN &/OR FARM FEATURE GLOSSARY? |
SPECIFIC BARN SURVEY FORM? |
STUDIES ON HISTORIC FARM PROPERTIES? |
COMMENTS
|
| Maine | YES | |||||
| Maryland | Maryland Trust (SHPO) | NO | ||||
| Preservation Maryland (non-profit) | SOME | YES | Tobacco Barn preservation page (see NRHP nomination for tobacco barns) | |||
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Historical Commission (SHPO) & Preservation Massachusetts (non-profit) |
NO | Preservation Massachusetts has a program entitled “Preserve Mass Barns” that has a great FAQ list | |||
| Michigan | Michigan State Historic Preservation Office | NO | Survey forms are not accesible online | |||
| Michigan Barn & Farmstead Survey Project | YES | YES (Sizable download) | YES | |||
| Michigan Barn Preservation Network (MBPN) | The MBPN started the Barn & Farmstead Survey andcontinues to provide aplethora of resources for barn preservation | |||||
| Minnesota | Minnesota State Historic Preservation Office & Friends of Minnesota Barns | NO | YES | |||
| Minnesota Department of Transportation, Cultural Resources Division, Farmsteads Study (1820-1960) | YES | YES; see Individual Farm Elements A-Z | YES | Very detailed investigation into agricultural buildings, structures, and objects | ||
| Mississippi | Mississippi Department of Archives and History, Historic Preservation Division (SHPO) | NO | NO | |||
| Missouri | Missouri Department of Natural Resources, (SHPO) | Yes (limited) | YES | YES | ||
| Missouri Barn Alliance and Rural Network and Century Farm program | Century barn program as well as links to the SHPO’s barn survey forms & instructions. | |||||
| Montana | Montana Historical Society (SHPO) | NO | NO | YES | NO | |
| Montana Preservation Alliance | NO | NO | NO | NO | They are promoting a couple historic barn projects, and have a book on the state’s barns available for purchase |
N
| Nebraska | Nebraska State Historical Society, State Historic Preservation Office | NO | NO | NO | YES | At least one historic context available (“NortheastNebraska IntensiveLivestock Production in Dixon and Dakota Counties”), and MANY county survey reports online! |
| Humanities Council, Barn History Project (See Amazing Resources below for a link to the well-researched Wessels Living History Farm!) | YES | NO | NO | NO | Good historical data on a number of historic barns in the state. |
| Nevada | Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, State Historic Preservation Office | NO | NO | NO | NO | They do have a Centennial Ranch and Farm Program. See also, California-Nevada Barn Alliance |
| New Hampshire | NO | NO | YES | YES |
So many great links on these pages… State also offers specific grants for barn preservation & has a great planning guide to preserving rural character! |
|
| New Jersey | Department of Environmental Protection, Historic Preservation Office | NO | ||||
| New Mexico | New Mexico Historic Preservation Division | NO | ||||
| New York |
Parks, Recreation & Historic Preservation (SHPO) Preservation League of New York (non-profit) |
NO | ||||
| New York State Barn Coalition(See Other Amazing Resources below for link to Dutch Barn Preservation Society, also headquartered in New York!) | SOME | NO | ONE | Great list of technical bulletins on barn preservation. Links to a few county-level barn surveys! | ||
| North Carolina | North Carolina Historic Preservation Office | SOME | NO | NO | YES | Very informative site on state’s tobacco barns! |
| North Dakota | State Historical Society of North Dakota, Historic Preservation Office | YES | NO | YES!! |
O
| Ohio | Ohio History Connection (non-profit) | NO | ||||
| Ohio Academy of Science | YES | Based on the work of Cultural Geographer and author Allen G. Noble. | ||||
| Friends of Ohio Barns | Yes, upon request | Issues of “The Old Barn Post” newsletters have some information on barn types and historical data | ||||
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Historic Society (SHPO) | SOME | YES | |||
| Oregon | Oregon State Historic Preservation Office | NO | State inventory is searchable and available to the public |
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|
STATE |
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE |
DESCRIPTION OF BARN TYPE(S)? |
BARN &/OR FARM FEATURE GLOSSARY? |
SPECIFIC BARN SURVEY FORM? |
STUDIES ON HISTORIC FARM PROPERTIES? |
COMMENTS |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission (SHPO) | YES; see Agricultural Field Guide | YES; see Field Guide’s Agricultural Building Features | NO | YES | One of the best resources in the country for historic agricultural properties! |
| Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania | YES |
R
| Rhode Island |
Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission (SHPO) Preserve Rhode Island (non-profit) |
NO | YES | Barn & farming resources available on website,Their historic context on landscapes addresses historic farms. |
S
| South Carolina | South Carolina State Preservation Office (SHPO) | NO | A thematic study on tobacco barns is on file at the SHPO. | |||
| South Dakota | South Dakota State Historic Preservation | YES | NO | YES | Homesteading & Agricultural Development context /6000+ farmstead records!!! |
T
| Tennessee | Tennessee Historical Commission (SHPO) | Minimal information available from SHPO website. | ||||
| Texas | Texas Historical Commission (SHPO) | NO | NO | NO | YES – Agricultural Theme Study for Central TX | Regional “Heritage Tours” also highlight the agricultural history of specific areas. |
U
| Utah | Utah State Historic Preservation Office | NO | NO | NO | NO | Their building survey form: |
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|
STATE |
ORGANIZATION/WEBSITE |
DESCRIPTION OF BARN TYPE(S)? |
BARN &/OR FARM FEATURE GLOSSARY? |
SPECIFIC BARN SURVEY FORM? |
STUDIES ON HISTORIC FARM PROPERTIES? |
COMMENTS |
| Vermont | Vermont Division for Historic Preservation (SHPO)The Preservation Trust of Vermont “For Barn Owners” | YES | YES | The state’s barn census is operated by the University, and collects basic information on historic barns. A historic context for Agriculture in the state from 1760 to 1940 is available at the SHPO | ||
| Vermont Division for Historic Preservation, University of Vermont Historic Preservation Program | YES | YES | YES | YES | Maintains the Barn Census database & provides clear instructions for surveying. | |
| Virginia | Department of Historic Resources (SHPO)& Preservation Virginia’s Tobacco Barns Project | NO | The state’s more than 80 Rural Historic Districts contain a number of historic farm properties and contextual data. |
W
| Washington | Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (SHPO) & Heritage Barn Program | YES | YES | YES | YES | Heritage Barn program provides a number of educational resources online. Competitive grants also available. |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Division of Culture & History (SHPO) | NO | ||||
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Historical Society (SHPO) | NO | Searchable inventory of historic buildings. Existing resources may be expanded. | |||
| University of Wisconsin Barn Preservation Program | A Partnership between theSHPO and Univ. of Wisconsin Extension program. | |||||
| Wyoming | State Historic Preservation Office | NO | YES | Operate a Centennial Farm program; Historic context “Ranching, Farming, Homesteading (1860-1960).” |
Other AMAZING educational resources:
| Other Resources | Dutch Barn Preservation Society and Hudson Valley Vernacular Architecture |
Dutch Barn only | NO | YES | NO | |
| USDA Agriculture in the Classroom, Timeline | Great historical data on the nation’s agricultural past! | |||||
| USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Historical Census Publications | Historic Census data available providing details on state- and county- level agricultural production. Includes general farming assessments, some maps of production and distribution, and some history on certain production patterns | |||||
| Links to Agricultural Resources on the Web (PA SHPO) | Links to historic farmingresources as well as current resources forfarm & barn preservation | |||||
| National Agricultural Library of the USDA | Variety of resources regarding agriculture in America | |||||
| Core Historical Literature of Agriculture | Variety of historical primarysources on agriculture in America | |||||
| Timber Framers Guild (TGF) glossary | Glossary on historic timber-framing techniques and materials | |||||
| Google Books search for “Farm Buildings” | Excellent free books include:Farm Buildings by the Breeder’sGazette (1916), by Foster andCarter (1922), by John Wooley (1946) and several historic USDA bulletins | |||||
| National Trust for Historic Preservation, Barn Again! | Rural Heritage Issues & Rural Conservation Toolkit | |||||
| National Trust for Historic Preservation, Barn Again! Barn repair bulletins | Barn repair bulletins galore! | |||||
| USDA Rural Information Center | The USDA Rural InformationCenter, Rural PreservationResources website provides links to more than fifty full-text “how to” information guides and manuals on general and technical aspects of historic preservation, including specialty resources on historic barns, farms, bridges, schools, battlefields, landscapes, lighthouses, interiors, exteriors, preservation techniques, and other facts of historic preservation. |
| Other Amazing Resources (cont’d) | Wessels Living History Farm in York Nebraska – Online Exhibit (1920s to 1970s) | Presents historical data on topics like money, crops, water,family life, machinery, pests, etc.Includes video interviews with local farmers! | ||||
| The Barn Pages – a networking site that facilitates the sale and reclamation of barns | ||||||