A Heritage Barn or "Historic Barn" is a barn in the United States that is deemed a cultural resource due to its unique historic character. The determination of "heritage barn" status is based on criteria set forth by the National Register of Historic Places. As with all Historic Preservation efforts, heritage barns are encouraged, but not required, to be working buildings.
Contents |
Because barns vary widely in style, size, materials, purpose and architecture, most legal definitions remain open ended. Several U.S. states have legislation defining heritage barns. One legal definition of Heritage Barns comes from Washington State. The Substitute House Bill 2115 from the 2007 Regular Legislative Session defined Heritage Barns as:
any large agricultural outbuilding used to house animals, crops, or farm equipment, that is over fifty years old and has been determined by the department to:
(a) Be eligible for listing on the Washington heritage register or the national register of historic places; or
(b) have been listed on a local historic register and approved by the advisory council.
In addition to barns, "heritage barn" includes agricultural resources such as milk houses, sheds, silos, or other outbuildings, that are historically associated with the working life of the farm or ranch, if these outbuildings are on the same property as a heritage barn.[1]
The purpose of this bill was to establish a Heritage Barn Preservation Grant Program, administered through the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.[2]
American standards of preservation dictate that a structure be 50 years or older before they may be considered historic.
In the United States, heritage barns are often a small part of a larger preservation effort, and each state deals with them through their State Historic Preservation Office and various state programs. However, there are cases of concentrated preservation efforts aimed at protecting historic agricultural resources. Washington State maintains an official Heritage Barn Register through the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, created by their legislature in 2007. The Heritage Barn Register was a response to the preliminary findings of a Heritage Barn Survey conducted in 2007, which found an enormous inventory of historic barns, including many with physical needs.[3] In 2007 alone, 292 Heritage Barns were listed on this special register.[3]
Several preservation groups argue that the increasing consolidation and modernization of the agricultural industry provides an additional threat to historic barns in addition to the threats faced by other historic buildings.
In many states, funding is available to heritage barns through normal preservation grants programs, including the Preserve America grants program, the Save America's Treasures grants program, as well as individual state preservation grants. Increasingly, state's provide or have provided funding specifically for heritage barns. Currently, Washington, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire, Iowa, Montana, Maryland and Michigan provide grants in various forms.[3]
Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation