Take a trip down memory lane by joining the 25th annual All-State Barn Tour across Iowa this fall. The self-guided, drive-it-yourself tour is free and open to the public. It’s set for Saturday, Sept. 13, and Sunday, Sept. 14.
The 2025 fall tour features over 100 barns. They’ll be available for visiting inside and out from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. You can choose the route and the barns you wish to see.
“Iowa is proud to host the largest barn tour in the country,” says Dave Austin, an Iowa Barn Foundation (IBF) board member and volunteer. Look online to plan a tour of the barns in your area of the state.
“While the tour stops are primarily livestock barns, we have other types of farm buildings as well as a couple of ag museums this year,” Austin says. “Our visitors consistently tell us they greatly enjoy the conversations with the barn owners. It is the personal family stories that bring the richness to Iowa’s agricultural heritage.”
Choose your route
The 2025 fall tour has a record number of 103 stops, including 16 barns on the tour for the first time. The tour is made possible by member donors.
The fall tour highlights barns that have received a restoration grant from the IBF and those that have received an Award of Distinction or Preservation Award for restoration funded by the owner. Many of the owners will be on hand to share their memories and regard for the structures, as well as to answer questions.
If you’ve only seen barns from the road, you are missing out on the true beauty that lies within, Austin says. That’s where you’ll see the true craftsmanship that went into construction of these “cathedrals on the prairie,” he adds.
The tour includes 11 round barns, which are some of the most rare and unique barns in Iowa. Tour participants won’t be limited to just seeing barns. They’ll also see corn cribs, a wood silo, a poultry house and agriculture museums.
This is a great multigeneration weekend activity for the whole family to experience history “in the real,” Austin says.
Amazing architecture
Member donors receive the IBF’s spring and fall magazines in their mailboxes. The publications have barn photos and stories, as well as a printed tour guide and map. Check the IBF website for membership information. Questions can be emailed to iowabarnfoundation@gmail.com.
As a volunteer-led nonprofit, the IBF aims to maximize member donations to provide restoration grants to save Iowa’s historic barns. Since being founded in 1997, the foundation has provided $2.4 million in grants to help save over 300 barns.
IBF holds two tours each year: the All-State Barn Tour (September) and the Spring Barn Tour (June). “Our self-guided tours are free and open to the public, made possible by our generous member donors,” Austin says. “Please consider becoming a member donor today to help save Iowa’s historic barns. You’ll receive our spring and fall magazines, which include interesting articles and detailed tour guides.”
Preserving Iowa history
To become a member and receive the biannual Iowa Barn Foundation Magazine, IBF asks for a minimum $50 donation to cover publishing and mailing costs. The same form, available on the IBF website, can be used for new members, renewing members and cash donations of any size. Donations are tax deductible.
You also can help IBF by volunteering. Do you have a skill that might help?
“We need volunteers to organize barn tours, serve as county reps, write magazine articles, document barn histories, take barn photos, submit articles to local media outlets and help with fundraising,” Austin says. “Your help will be greatly appreciated.”