My love of round barns started when I was in college. I had a very serious photography hobby and would take long drives in upstate NY looking for old barns to photograph.
It was in the days before digital cameras, so I now have big binders with pages filled of slides of countryside and barns.
Round barns are hard to find as they were not built that frequently after the 1920′s. The one that have been restored to their original state are amazing.
My favorite one….This round former cattle barn in Illinois was built in 1918 and restored in the 1990′s . Owner Bill Nolan restored the central silo, cedar shingled roof and four dormers.
Can you imagine what a beautiful and interesting house this could be?
Photography Credits: Hoosier Round Barns, Eddy Lund, Shelburne Mueseum, VT, Tony Soluri published in Architectural Digest, June 2006
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Would love to see all the pictures you took sometime as I love these barns!!!! Great post!
My dream would be to find a barn and transform it into an Arts Center – art, music, dance and make it haven or heavenly place to go to for students.
pve
I think I need to add round barns to my favorites list as well!
What charming images Laura!
xo
Brooke
Love Round barns – I woudl love see phots of the interiors. Great post!
xx-Gina
Love the round barns! I would love to see photos of the interiors! A great post!
xx-Gina
PVE, what a great idea!
Laura, I love these too, especially the red, and hope you’ll share more of your photography on your blog. I’ve always wanted a hexagonal garconiere like the one at Houmas House, or a pigoniere
There is something about a circular space that is magical. Please post some of you photos!
Laura, these are magnificent. I love barns! But have not seen round ones before…so unique and special. Thank you for sharing. Did you know that my Duxbury house is a converted cow barn from 1800? Unfortunately not circular!! Loved the post! xo Annie
I especially LOVE the last one all lit up! beautiful!!
How beautiful! thanks for sharing your precious images. I never thought much of round barns before. This post made me appreciate them.
I really, really liked these photos. I’m fascinated with barns–especially big, red ones. Would love to transform one into a country home. Very cool that photography was your hobby. I’m starting to really get into it and can understand how consuming and enjoyable it can be.
BARNS ARE ONE OF MY FAVORITE THINGS, THE ROUND ONES ARE SOOOOO SPECIAL! THANKS FOR SHARING.
Years ago I stayed at a lovely place called The Inn at Round Barn Farms. Loved it. MB
What a fun post! I have never seen a round barn in person. Are they just not common out West? Beautiful images you selected.
xo,
cristin
What a beautiful place for a wedding reception!
These are unbelievable! I honestly did not even know they made barns back then that were circular! Where in Upstate NY did you go to find these? (I went for a year to St. Lawrence University in Canton NY…3 hours north of Syracuse.) The next time I am up North, I would love to go take a look at some!
The last one is unbelievably pretty, I wish I could go in and take a look.
I actually have a design client that has recently built a round barn in Iowa. The barn has four floors and is on a sloped site so that the garage is in the basement, the ground floor is being finished this summer to have a canning kitchen & wood shop. The third floor is for living with kitchen, dining room, great room, bedroom & bath. The top floor is like the red barn and houses an office. I’ll have to get you some pictures. It is by far the most fun home I have ever designed.
Those are beautiful, Laura! Thanks for sharing!
How fun & lovely! Never quite looked at barns that way before…. But I sure will pay more attention from now on! Round barns… Almost like art! Cyber hug, Mon
WOW- not to sound like a broken record, but these are fantastic!! Had no idea these existed, to be honest! Great, great post!
So interesting, I bet you have an incredible collection of photos!
Hi, found your web site via a google alert. I, too, have a passion for barns. And like you, I developed my passion in college. But mine hit me while riding in a dome car through central Illinois. Years later, I’ve published a book full of barn photography, (“Wisconsin Barns//Farcountry Press) and run a web site called Midwest Barns (www.ernestjschweit.blogspot.com) Take a look, if you like. I’m always interested in hooking up with other barn lovers.
These barns are divine – so much lovelier than the ones we have here in Australia! Leigh
These are beautiful! My aunt and uncle bought a hexagonal barn on ebay and had it dismantled and shipped from Illinois to Georgia where they put it back together and are making it into a lake house. I wouldn’t mind having a round barn myself!