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.
Moss Family Barn
In 1864, during the Civil War, Elias H. Moss purchased land near Logansport and with the clay found on the land, built the fine brick home that proudly stands today on this lovely farm.
Dennis Pennington Barn
Perched on a high ridge near New Washington, this barn overlooks gentle hills and valleys that drain into Fourteen mile Creek. While the farm has been in the Pennington family since 1815, the barn was added to the farm at a later unknown date.
William F. James Barn
This gothic arch-roofed milk barn was built in 1947 within the flat and fertile farmland of Clark County. It's a huge dairy barn at over 100 x 40 feet.
Eaglefield-Hunt-Hein Barn
A significant gem for Clay County and For Indiana is the Eaglefield-Hunt-Hein farm and barn. Located on the extreme eastern edge of Clay County, it is positioned on the historic Old National Highway.
Lyon Farms Barn
The Lyon family brick and tile barn is one worthy and significant example of Indiana’s past. The barn was built in the early 1900s.
Bryant-Eveland Barn
In 1846, eighty acres, including the land where this barn rests, were granted to Zophar W. Bryant. He proceeded to establish a very productive farm.
Fairclough Family Barn
This eye-catching barn is located near the South Fork of Wildcat Creek, which may have contributed to the fertile farming land in this area of Clinton County.
Bullington Barn
The exact age of this old barn is unknown; however, it is constructed from hefty sawmill-cut timbers with unique splicing techniques. As farming opportunities changed, so did this barn. During the 19405, a third level was added to this barn, giving it two haylofts.
Wood Springs Farm Barn
The rolling hills and curving roads that led me back to this secluded farm and barn made this "find" even more enjoyable. A person has to cross the beautiful Camp Fork Creek to get to the barn.
Raber Family Red Barn
This red barn complex is nestled in north central Daviess County. One family has owned this homegrown barn since the mid 1960s. The original barn, a small gable barn buried within the extended structure, is much older. The exact age is unknown.
Singleton Round Barn
After his barn was built and used Thomas Singleton wrote this statement about his barn. His article was published in the June 5, 1909 issue of the Indiana Farmer.
Blasdel-Schmid Barn
In the early 1800s, around 1812, this farm was given to Lieutenant Colonel Jacob Blasdel as compensation for his service during the Revolutionary War.
Eric Hummeldorf Barn
This side hill English barn was carefully positioned within the steeply rolling hills above Tanners Creek in Southeastern Indiana. The original section of the barn complex is 49 x 30 feet.
Noe-Garrett Family Barn
This English-style barn was built in 1906. In 1947, the barn came into the possession of Andrew and Opal Noe, ancestors of the current owners. The barn is constructed of pegged hand-hewn timbers mixed in with timbers that were sawmill cut.
Roy R. Robbins Barn
Impressive from any angle outside, once you walk inside this barn the sense of expansive size and construction techniques amplify its significance.
Butler Family Farms Barn
This large L-shaped barn was built in the early 1900s; however, the exact is unknown. The DeKalb County courthouse burned in the early to mid-1900s destroying many records.
Heart Wood Acres Barn
Records for this large barn were lost in a fire at the DeKalb County Courthouse in the early 1900s. However, for the original barn, investigation has placed construction in the 1880s or 1890s.
All Wright Farms Barn
The three-level Wright family gable barn was built in the 1890s. It is uniquely placed and tucked into the side of a hill. The main entry is accessible by an earthen ramp on the barn's side.
Guthrie Family Barn
Three-gable barns like this one are very unusual. It has an earthen ramp approach and a bridge leading to the main level. Built in 1878, it is a three-level barn made from hand-hewn and pegged timbers.
Jerome Schroeder Family Barn
This unusual log barn was built around 1861 by Jerome Schroeder's ancestors. Located on a hillside, this barn has a spectacular view of the surrounding countryside.
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