Sanders, Kentucky, USA

Under the gable: K + B in Love. The interior of this declining barn (no longer needed for farming) may now look like a parking garage, but the exterior has become a lodge for the spirit of place. How do you personalize your landscape? [2022]

Laurel, Delaware, USA

It may be called a potato house, but it is really a potato barn, a place where potatoes, especially sweet potatoes, could be stored as they were harvested every fall. Temperatures had to be controlled (see the chimney?) and air had to be kept circulating (see the high-up ventilation doors?). Unique to Delaware and Maryland, few remain on the landscape. [2022]

Myerstown, Pennsylvania, USA

Two locational elements are worth noting about this proud brick-end barn. First, it is located in the Lebanon Valley, where it is just a little out of place. Most brick-end barns are located west of the Susquehanna and in Maryland. Second, it is located on the edge of Myerstown, where it could easily be converted to a nursery, rather than in the country. [2023]

Freeze, Idaho, USA

It's always noteworthy when the outbuilding is bigger than the barn. Both look like they are of similar age. If fact, both look like they have prolonged their existence beyond their useful lifetimes. Their destiny is simply to succumb to the elements. [2019]

Old Bethpage, New York, USA

Dutch Barns looked a lot like English barns, but there was one main difference. The doors were on the gable end of the barn. Old Bethpage Village on Long Island has preserved the heritage of both English and the Dutch in the history of New York. [1983]

Old Bethpage, New York, USA

The English barn diffused to the United States, in this case Long Island, with agricultural pioneers. Given its simple design, it became one of America's most common barn types. Settlers from other parts of Europe gave it some competition, however. The Dutch brought with them the Dutch barn and the Germans brought the bank barn. [1983]

Leiston, England, UK

Here on the grounds of Leiston Abbey is a prototypical English barn, identified by it gable roof and its doors on the long side of the structure. In this case, the roof is thatched. The English barn became one of the pioneering barn types of British North America. [1984]

Eastville, Virginia, USA

If you have visited the Eastern Shore of Virginia, you have seen some fine examples of "connecting architecture." The locals describe it as "big house, little house, colonnade, and kitchen." They also think it is unique. Why do you think such architectural ideas were so popular in on the shores of the Chesapeake Bay? And why no connected barn? [2022]

Old West Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA

Along the Connecticut River are many examples of New England "connecting architecture," sometimes described as "big house, little house, back house, barn." Yes, that garage probably started as a barn. Why do you think such architectural ideas were so popular in New England? Could the snow on the ground be a clue, or is it more complex than that? [2022]

Cashtown, Pennsylvania, USA

The Round Barn: Like the Schuster Barn and the Emminger Barn, the round barn in Pennsylvania's orchard country was built in the early 20th century. It's the eye-catching centerpiece of a working farm that seems to be capitalizing on current trends in rural economics. The barn is now a produce and crafts market, and right across the road is a winery. [2021 and 1986]

Watertown, South Dakota, USA

The Corson Emminger Barn: What would you do with a round barn if you had one on your property? This one was built in the early 20th century and now seems to have put its Dakota Dairy days behind it. Too bad it seems to be a bit neglected. Even the ramp that used to lead up to the second story entrance has been removed. [2007]

Deerfield, Wisconsin, USA

The Schuster Barn: When you have something unique, capitalize on it! The round Schuster Barn has been turned into Schuster's Farm (see logo below), which now offers seasonal produce and activities for much of the year. Fortunately, it is located not far from the Madison metropolitan area which supplies a steady flow of customers. [1985]

Lerna, Illinois, USA

♫ These Are a Few of My Favorite Things ♫ ~ Barns: Just as the family farm is passing out of existence, so is the traditional barn. Some, like this double-pen barn on the reconstituted Lincoln farm, will be deliberately preserved; most will not. Geographers love to figure out why building materials, designs, and sizes of barns vary from place to place. [2017]

Bowman, North Dakota, USA

Last year at this time, the sunflowers here on the northern Plains were in full bloom. The Dakotas are the largest producers of sunflowers in the United States by far. Nevertheless, Kansas has dubbed itself the Sunflower State. It might be time to re-imagine state nicknames. [2019]

Pomeroy, Washington, USA

Western Washington is so wet. Eastern Washington is so dry. Where are we here? All the rain clouds that were on their way to Pomeroy got "rained out" while passing over the Cascade Range. It's a process called orographic uplift and it results in a rain shadow. Still, there is enough rainfall to make the Palouse one of the great wheat-growing areas of the nation. [2019]

Hancock, Massachusetts, USA

What the Round Barn tells us about the Shakers: (1) They were lovers of innovation: Round promoted easy in-and-out flows. (2) They were egalitarian: Round meant no one ever brought up the rear. (3) They were true believers: Round meant life was without beginning or end. (4) They were asexual: Round meant they were never tempted by dark corners. [2019]

Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, USA

First, let's observe the building material: limestone, quarried locally from the same bedrock that gives the valley uber-fertile soils. Second, let's note the size: huge, but still not big enough, so an extended granary was added. Third, let's classify the architecture: Pennsylvania Bank Barn. See the bank leading to the second floor? [1983]

Las Cruces, New Mexico, USA

In the American Southwest, barns are not quite as essential as they are in climates that are colder and rainier. When older ones appear, they are made of neither stone nor wood. They are made of adobe. Like stone and wood barns, however, these adobe barns reflect the environment where they are found. [1987]

Vail, Colorado, USA

Logs and lumber: As pioneer settlers spread across the continent, these were probably the first building materials they chose for their barns. Then, as agriculture prospered, more substantial materials were sought from the local environment. In the mountain West, however, crop farming rarely prospered and wood remained the preference. [1983]

Georgetown, Kentucky, USA

Do you see the octagram? Oct = 8, as in October, the eighth month of the year. But wait, October is the tenth month of the year, you say. Not for the ancient Romans. Their year began with March. Count it off. October is month eight. What was the seventh month of the Roman year? [2017]