Iowa Hosts Largest Barn Tour in the World September 19-20

The stories of Decorah matter. Help us cover them. The Iowa Barn Foundation will hold its 26th annual All-State Barn Tour Sept. 19-20, featuring 108 historic barns across the state. The self-guided tour is free and open to the public. Barns will be open for visitors from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. The fall tour includes barns that have received restoration grants from the Iowa Barn Foundation, as well as barns recognized with an Award of Distinction or Preservation Award for restoration work funded by their owners. In some locations, barn owners will be available to answer questions and share information about the structures. This year's tour includes 12 barns participating for the first time and 16 round barns. An interactive tour guide with information about the stops is available at the Iowa Barn Foundation website. The foundation was established in 1997 and provides grants to help preserve historic barns. It has awarded $2.6 million in grants to more than 300 barns, according to the foundation. The Iowa Barn Foundation is a volunteer-led nonprofit organization funded through private donations and does not receive government funding. Three barns joining the tour for the first time in 2026 include: Ogden Barn — Maxwell The Ogden Barn, at 15170 NE 120th Ave. in Maxwell, was likely built between 1910 and 1920. The gambrel-roof barn features a Dutch-style roofline designed to direct rainwater away from the siding. The interior includes wooden milking stanchions, four stalls for draft horse teams, two granaries and a haymow. Restoration work in 2025 included foundation stabilization, window and roof replacement, and painting. The barn is expected to house sheep, cattle and horses. The barn received a restoration grant from the Iowa Barn Foundation. 1883 Roberts Octagon Barn — Iowa City The Roberts Octagon Barn, at 4715 Kansas Ave. SW in Iowa City, was built in 1883 on a farmstead settled by the Roberts family in the 1860s. The barn has eight sides, each measuring 26 feet, with a diameter of 61 feet. Its limestone foundation is 14 to 16 inches wide. The original lean-tos provided additional storage and shelter for livestock. The basement includes horse stalls, cattle pens and two rows of dairy stanchions. The haymow level contains oat bins and a small corncrib. Hand-hewn beams frame the interior. The barn received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation and is part of a Heritage Farm. Hempstead Barn — Fillmore The Hempstead Barn, located at the northeast corner of Simon Road and Highway 151 in Fillmore, was built in 1896 for Michael and Mary Seery on a 40-acre farm. The 24-by-48-foot barn stands 33 feet tall and was constructed by Joseph Kofmehl of Farley. The farmhouse on the property was removed in the 1970s when Highway 151 was widened. The barn's east side contains wooden milking stanchions and a calf pen, while the west side has four horse stalls. The interior remains largely original, including worn but intact wood floors in the stalls. A corncrib is attached to the rear of the barn. The Hempstead population sign on the barn refers to the area's original village name, which was established when the area was platted in 1856-57. The village was later renamed Fillmore. The barn received an Award of Distinction from the Iowa Barn Foundation. A complete listing of the 108 tour stops, including photos, is available through the Iowa Barn Foundation's online tour guide. The foundation also publishes spring and fall magazines featuring barn photos and stories, along with a printed tour guide and map, for members. More information about the tour and membership is available at iowabarnfoundation.org. Questions may be directed to iowabarnfoundation@gmail.com. The stories that matter to you, delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe for free.