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.
Rashce Family Log Barn
The beautiful rolling countryside of Dubois County hugs all four sides of this farm and its old log barn. Built by early Rasche family members in 1888, it is a double-crib log barn placed carefully on huge stones, some of which are dressed.
Kathleen Nichols Barn
This very old barn is an early treasure, built around 1859. The attractive stone foundation has been maintained and exhibits integrity after all these years of service. The approach to the upper level on the west side is an earthen ramp.
Truex Family Barn
Ancestors of Julie Truex established this 217-acre farm in 1860. In 1960 the farm qualified for and received the Indiana Homestead Centennial Award.
Hollingsworth-Cobb Barn
In 1930, Wayne B. Hollingsworth build this barn to replace the original, which had burned. His name was carefully lettered in white paint above the large wagon doors.
Scholl Homestead Farm Barn
Built in 1840, this is one of the earliest barns in Indiana. It remains a major feature on the Scholl Farm. The family acquired the land in 1832; the historic brick home was built much later in 1883.
David Best Log Barn
The terrain in Floyd County is full of knolls and valleys. The roads twist and turn through picturesque countryside, so finding this log barn was a pleasant adventure. It rests upon a gentle hill overlooking rolling pastures.
William Stumler Family Barn
High on a ridge between Indian Creek and Little Indian Cree this barn is a perfect addition to the rolling countryside and picturesque views. William Stumler purchased the land in 1907 and built this beautiful gable-roofed barn in 1908.
Blackie Nixon Barn
This 1884 gable-roofed bank barn commands a natural ridgeline above a large bend in Coal Creek in east central Fountain County. The barn is positioned in such a way on the steep slope that a stacked stone-and-brick foundation on one side of the barn is quite high.
Galloway Farms Barn
This small gable barn is buried deep within the natural beauty of Fountain County. George A. and Laura Galloway, ancestors of the current owners, built this barn in 1899. The lower area consists of stables for horses and their required tack.
Grace’s Barn
Picturesque Franklin County is home to this large dairy barn. The construction date is unknown.
Sulina Tobacco Barn
This pass-through bank barn is a Hoosier Tobacco barn. It is located in the beautiful rolling hills south of Brookville. It was built in 1908-09 as an improvement to the recently purchased farm of Andrew Ariens.
City of Rochester Round Barn
There is quite a story behind this barn. The Kindig family built it in 1910. It is believed to be one of the first build in Fulton County.
Haimbaugh Farms Inc., Round Barn
This spectacular round barn is a real treasure for Fulton County. It is the largest round barn in the county, build in 1914.
Fetcher Barn
Large sections of Gibson County are comprised of gently rolling hills and fertile farmland. Many of the earlier farms and barns are gone, replaced by large tracts of farmland uninterrupted by fences or farmsteads uninterrupted by fences or farmsteads.
Kolb Family Homestead Barns
It would be difficult to find a more beautiful setting for a farm. It rests upon a high ridge above sweeping fields with a view along the Patoka River in Gibson County.
Peason Barn
Historically located in an elbow of Walnut Creek, this farm and barn are at home in a beautiful and fertile area of the county.
Shady Grove Farm Barn
Years ago a local ice cream shop was the benefactor of the fresh dairy cream that came from this more than 100-year old barn. It was very busy place during those days.
Bucher Family Barn
Located within gently rolling hills near West Fork White River, this red barn fits comfortably within the landscape.
Doug Long Barn
Indiana is a state known for many picturesque places. Within Greene County, this barn rests in one such place.
Carpenter-Morgan Barn
In 1992, the Carpenter family built the house and the barn on this farm in northern Hamilton County. In the 1960s, Frances and Robert Morgan acquired the farm and raised a large and active family with a focus on farming activities centered in and around the barn.
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