Celebrating Barns for Indiana's Bicentennial
Nothing is more inherent to Indiana’s history than its agricultural roots. The Bicentennial Barn project celebrates Indiana agriculture and the iconic barn through art and education. This is a registry, with entries in the form of photographs. It is free and open to all Indiana citizens, with a goal of participation from all 92 counties. Any individual can enter a barn. We hope to instill pride in place and encourage statewide participation.
Bicentennial Barns of Indiana is an endorsed program of the 2016 Bicentennial Commission. The goal of the program is to celebrate classic Indiana barns and their impact on our economy and history, and to preserve them for future generations to use, appreciate, and connect us to our past. The name “Bicentennial Barn” does not refer to the age of the barn; rather, it refers to the 200-year celebration of Indiana. In other words, barns need not be 200 years old, but must be built prior to 1950.
The contest portion of the program opened in February 2015 and closed December 2015. We were seeking Indiana barns built prior to 1950 that retain sufficient integrity of original design, materials and construction, and served an essential or useful purpose related to agricultural activities. Entries were considered for their aesthetics, character and condition, geographic distribution and construction type. Of those entries submitted by the deadline, 200 were selected to receive a Bicentennial Barn sign. Ten were selected as the "Top 10" and will receive a handmade plaque made be Indiana artisan Dorrell Harrison. There also will be Honorable Mentions.
The contest portion of this program closed in December. Now, we are encouraging anyone who has a pre-1950 barn to register their barn as a way to celebrate Indiana barns and bring attention to their importance and value as icons of agriculture and the rural landscape. Simply fill out the form on the How To Enter Page and your barn will appear on this website and on Facebook. You will receive a letter acknowledging your registration. We hope to record as many barns as possible for posterity, so that they will not be forgotten.
Nothing is more inherent to Indiana’s history than its agricultural roots. The Bicentennial Barn project celebrates Indiana agriculture and the iconic barn through art and education. This is a registry, with entries in the form of photographs. It is free and open to all Indiana citizens, with a goal of participation from all 92 counties. Any individual can enter a barn. We hope to instill pride in place and encourage statewide participation.
Bicentennial Barns of Indiana is an endorsed program of the 2016 Bicentennial Commission. The goal of the program is to celebrate classic Indiana barns and their impact on our economy and history, and to preserve them for future generations to use, appreciate, and connect us to our past. The name “Bicentennial Barn” does not refer to the age of the barn; rather, it refers to the 200-year celebration of Indiana. In other words, barns need not be 200 years old, but must be built prior to 1950.
The contest portion of the program opened in February 2015 and closed December 2015. We were seeking Indiana barns built prior to 1950 that retain sufficient integrity of original design, materials and construction, and served an essential or useful purpose related to agricultural activities. Entries were considered for their aesthetics, character and condition, geographic distribution and construction type. Of those entries submitted by the deadline, 200 were selected to receive a Bicentennial Barn sign. Ten were selected as the "Top 10" and will receive a handmade plaque made be Indiana artisan Dorrell Harrison. There also will be Honorable Mentions.
The contest portion of this program closed in December. Now, we are encouraging anyone who has a pre-1950 barn to register their barn as a way to celebrate Indiana barns and bring attention to their importance and value as icons of agriculture and the rural landscape. Simply fill out the form on the How To Enter Page and your barn will appear on this website and on Facebook. You will receive a letter acknowledging your registration. We hope to record as many barns as possible for posterity, so that they will not be forgotten.
