The Heritage Barn Project
The Heritage Barn Project was started in 2004. Gwen embarked on a self-prescribed project to document on canvas in oil paint, historic barns throughout her home state of Indiana. Gwen had several motivations and goals. First, she felt the need and desire to hone her talents. Second, Gwen has a love of old barns stemming from her childhood. She was concerned about the demise of these historic barns and wanted to preserve these structures. She hoped her painting project would spotlight and help save these rural treasures.
The project took more than 12 years of travel and painting to complete 186 historic barn paintings. Why paint? Why not just photograph? Gwen believes our eyes see differently than a camera’s lens. Our eyes can see the delicate nuances of color within shadows and soft hues within reflected light. Our eyes see subtle variations in values.
Therefore, she chose to paint on location as much as possible. She often spent many hours and even days standing quietly observing a barn. Time to see and feel all the subtleties mentioned, but also the character of each barn to, in essence, capture the barn’s portrait.
Below are the 186 barns featured in Gwen’s published gallery book, “Heritage Barns of Indiana.” The paintings are searchable by county and each painting features a bit of history of the structure.
You can find “Heritage Barns of Indiana” online by clicking here or at various galleries and shops in Indiana. For more information about the book or Gwen’s work, please click here to contact Gwen.
All the barn paintings are for sale. Please contact Gwen to find out if the painting(s) you are interested in are sold or available.
Normandy Barn, State Fairgrounds
The Herman C. and Elonora Krannert family were the original owners of this barn. It was part of a large farm complex established as Normandy Farms in 1934, and consisted of 600 acres.
Normandy Farms Barn
The barn shown in this painting is the smaller of the two barns from the Krannert farm complex established in 1934. The larger barn has been moved to the Indiana State Fair Grounds and houses The Center for Agricultural Science and Heritage.
Alvin Kuhns Family Barn
Many barns have lost their significance in today’s farming trends with the use of huge equipment and enormous animal confinements. However, this barn is still the center of activity on this bustling family farm.
Gumz-Morris Barn
In the early 1900s, the Grand Kankake Marsh was dredged and drained into the Kankake River. Over time, farmland was established in its place.
Dorsam-Hopf Mail Pouch Barn
In 1940, in a land sale, John Dorsam purchased the land where this barn is located. The barn was bult within five years of the land purchase.
Calloway Family Round Barn
The Calloway barn is positioned to take advantage of the gently rolling land. The hillside was only slightly altered to accommodate the two wagon doors; only one is visible in the painting.
Nancy Gross-Zell Barn
The current owners of this barn and farm can trace their family heritage back to the mid 1800s. The farm hosts a variety of older buildings dating to that time. The barn shown in this painting is the newest addition to the farm and was built in 1914.
Phelps-Klise Family Barn
The history of this family and farm is significant. In 1853 the Phelps family, ancestors of the current residents, established the farm when roads were few and most were rough trails.
Hinkle-Garton Farn Barn
This barn and farm are on the National Register of Historic Places and are located near Bloomington, Indiana. The barn was built in 1928 and is a large three-bay barn with a gambrel roof of tin.
Stevens Family Barn
This barn was built within the beautiful rolling hill and ravines of Monroe County, east of Bloomington. Lewis Stevens established the farm in 1817. Joseph Stevens built the barn in 1900. It has had additions and alterations throughout its busy life.
Breaks-Myers Fourteen-Sided Barn
This distinctive "round" barn is located north of Crawfordsville, not far from Black Creek. An even older timber barn previously occupied this barn's location.
Fisher-Dykes Polygonal Barn
The uniqueness of this barn has earned it a place on the National Register of Historic Places. It is unlike any other in its magnificent structure and splendid architectural highlights.
Gilbert-McGinnis Barn
This gable barn was built circa 1900 and has gone through changes and additions over its many years.
Burton Family Barn
Gently rolling hills carved out by rambling creeks slice through this eastern portion of Morgan County, creating a bucolic setting for this barn.
Hertiage Hills Barn
The Heritage Hills Farm was established in 1875 and has earned the designation of a Hoosier Homestead Farm. It is located along the Iroquois River, north of Kentland.
Sandra Thompson Barn
Little history is known about this attractive old barn with the unusual cupola. It was possibly built in the late 1800s, with changes made through the years as farming demands changed.
Manly’s Barn
This stately 1860s bank barn is the centerpiece of this horse farm. Hand-hewn and pegged timber-frame construction sets atop a Sturdy Stone foundation; this barn was built to last and to function superbly.
Rosswurm Family Barn
This stately hand-hewn timber framed bank barn was built in 1876. It is uniquely positioned on the edge of a gentle slope, adding it its character. Five lighting rods, with white glass globes, protect and add charm to the roof ridge.
Fisher-Miles Hay Press Barn
John Fisher built the beautiful old brick home on this farm in 1854; the barn was built just before or during this same period of time. Restoration of the home and barn are ongoing.
Casey Knigga Hay Press Barn
The two-level barn, with a stone-edged earthen approach, is a hay press barn dating from 1853 and is a stunningly restored treasure.
Click below to search for paintings from
the Heritage Barn Project by county.
Owen
Parke
Perry
Pike
Porter
Posey
Pulaski
Putnam
Randolph
Ripley
Rush
Scott
Shelby
Spencer
St. Joseph
Starke
Steuben
Sullivan
Switzerland
Tippecanoe
Tipton
Union
Vanderburgh
Vermillion
Vigo
Wabash
Warren
Warrick
Washington
Wayne
Wells
White
Whitley