Looking for something different to do on a September weekend? Consider taking a self-guided tour of Iowa’s historic barns. The 2024 fall tour features a record 92 barns!

The Iowa Barn Foundation (IBF) is holding its 24th annual All-State Barn Tour on Saturday, Sept. 14, and Sunday, Sept. 15. The barns are located throughout the state. They’ll be available for visiting inside and out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

“Iowa is proud to host the largest barn tour in the country,” says Dave Austin, an IBF board member. “You can look online at www.Iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tours to plan your tour of the barns in your area of the state.”

The fall tour highlights barns that have received a restoration grant from the foundation and those that have received an award of distinction or a preservation award for restoration funded by the owner. Many of the owners will be on hand to share their memories and their respect for these structures and to answer your questions.

Amazing architecture

The IBF is especially excited to have a record 11 round barns included in the tour. Of the approximately 200,000 Iowa barns built in the late 1800s and early 1900s, only 250 were round — including some octagonal and multisided.

Of the 11 round barns on the fall tour this year, six are on the tour for the first time. These barns feature some of the most amazing design and architecture you’ll find in any building in the state of Iowa.

The self-guided tour is free and open to the public, made possible by IBF member donors. An online tour guide can be found at iowabarnfoundation.org/barn-tours.

“Our member donors receive the foundation’s spring and fall magazines in their mailboxes filled with barn photos and stories, as well as a printed guide to our spring and fall barn tours,” Austin says.

You can learn more about IBF at iowabarnfoundation.org/product/membership. Questions can be emailed to [email protected].

Preserving Iowa history

As a volunteer-led nonprofit organization, the foundation’s goal is to maximize member donations to provide restoration grants to save the state’s historic barns. Since it was founded in 1997, IBF has given out $2.3 million in grants to help save almost 300 barns.

IBF holds two tours each year, the All-State Barn Tour (September) and the Spring Barn Tour (June). “While our self-guided tours are free and open to the public, they are made possible by our generous member donors,” Austin says. “Please consider becoming a member donor today to help save Iowa’s historic barns. You will receive our spring and fall magazines, which include interesting articles and detailed tour guides.”

IBF welcomes your support in helping to make Iowa an outdoor museum. To become a member and receive the biannual Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine, IBF asks for a minimum $50 donation to cover publishing and mailing costs. The same form, available on the IBF website, can be used for new members, renewing members and cash donations of any size. Donations are tax deductible.

You also can help IBF by volunteering. Do you have a skill that might help? “We need volunteers to organize barn tours, serve as county reps, write magazine articles, document barn histories, take barn photos, submit articles to local media outlets and help with fundraising,” Austin says. “Your help will be greatly appreciated.”