This document provides information on different types of barns found in Connecticut, including their distinguishing architectural features and historical uses. It describes English, New England, bank, gambrel, polygonal, tobacco shed, onion, dairy, potato/mushroom, poultry, corn crib, carriage, and gentleman's barns. The document also includes a map that outlines seven self-guided driving tours around the state to view barns, along with resources for more information.

1. Fairfield
County
and the
Western Shore
New Haven
and the Shoreline
Connecticut
River Valley
North
CT
River
Valley
South
The Quiet
Corner:
Northeast
Connecticut
Thames River
Valley and
New London
County
Barn Types
FORM
English
This barn was the main type used
throughout the colonial era in
Connecticut. It is characterized by a
rectangular three-bay plan, a gable roof,
and entry through a large door in the
center of the long side. Traditionally,
hay was stored on one side, animals on the other, with wagon access and
grain threshing taking place in the central bay.
New England
The successor to the English barn, this
type relies on a gable entry. This
arrangement allows for easy expansion
by adding bays along the axis of the
ridge. Although it was seen by many
as an improvement over the earlier
side entry English Barn, the New England barn did not replace its
predecessor but rather both continued to be built.
Bank
This type is characterized by the
location of its main floor at a higher
level, either through building on a
hillside or by raising the building on a
foundation and ramping up. There are
two advantages to this arrangement.
Originally it provided a place under the barn for the collection and
storage of precious manure generated over the winter by livestock on
the main floor. Later, with the addition of windows for better light and
ventilation, animals were housed in the lowest level, leaving more hay
capacity above.
Gambrel
The introduction of gambrel roofs ­—
and their later counterparts, the “gothic
roof ” and “round roof ” — to barns
allowed for greater volumes of hay
storage in the loft spaces. Most gambrel
barns are New England type, though
some English barns have gambrel roofs.
Polygonal/Round
These are characterized by a plan other
than the traditional rectangle. While
one of the earliest polygonal barns is
associated with our first president (and
dated 1796), neither polygonal or round
barns ever captured the imagination of
American farmers, even though they were repeatedly touted as being
most efficient.
PURPOSE
Tobacco Shed
This type of barn, or shed as they are
called in the Connecticut River Valley,
is one of the most distinctive of the
single-crop barns. It is characterized
often by great length and by vented sides
to regulate air flow and allow harvested
tobacco to cure at the appropriate rate.
Onion
In response to the specialization of
local farmers in growing onions, a
barn type appeared in Fairfield County
and the Windsor area. While English
onion sheds use a system of louvers
to encourage even drying (not unlike
our tobacco barns) the examples of onion barns so far located in
Connecticut have not used this feature. Instead, they are called onion
barns simply because they were used to store the crop.
Dairy
The term is used as early as the 18th
century (along with “cow house”).
Modern dairy barns are characterized
by their interior arrangements of
stanchions and gutters to facilitate
milking and the removal of manure.
The iconic dairy barn is a large gambrel-roofed structure dedicated to
the milking cows. Ever more stringent sanitary regulations resulted in
specialized technologies such as manure trolleys, silos, and milk rooms or
creameries.
Potato & Mushroom Barns
Potato houses or storage barns come in
many different shapes and sizes all
linked by the common goal of keeping
harvested potatoes at a constant
temperature and in the dark. The most
traditional of these are banked into a
hillside. The mushroom barn similarly needs to provide a controlled,
dark environment and is likely to be built of masonry.
Poultry House/
Chicken Coop
Originally, poultry was raised on a small
scale because of its vulnerability to cold
weather and disease. In the middle
of the 19th century rearing poultry
became a more popular pursuit. With
the increased popularity came a new building type of chicken coop.
While these originally started out as relatively small buildings, by the
mid-1900s large multi-story poultry barns could be found in a number
of areas.
Corn Crib
In the middle of the 19th century,
growing “Indian” corn became popular.
Storing the corn on the cob in well-
ventilated corn cribs allowed the
kernels to dry without spoiling. The
distinctively shaped corn crib, with slanted side walls built of spaced
wooden slats, became common by the 1860s. The overhanging eaves
and slanted walls helped prevent rain from splashing inside. Vertical
side walls are also common. Corn cribs are typically set high above the
ground on wooden or stone posts.
Carriage Barn
By the 1850s, some New England
farmers built horse stables and
carriage barns separated from the
other livestock. The precursor to
the twentieth-century garage, these
outbuildings are distinguished by their large hinged doors, often a wall
dormer with a hay door into the loft, and proximity to the farmhouse.
Elaborate carriage barns were also associated with gentlemen farms of
the late 19th and early 20th centuries and also with the larger homes in
urban areas.
Gentleman’s Barn
The 19th century saw the introduction
of the Gentleman’s barn. These barns
were frequently designed by famous
architects and were part of estates that
combined the luxury of a country
retreat with the grit of a working farm. The farm supplied dairy
products for the estate and often for the owner’s city home. These farms
often demonstrated the latest inventions and techniques for scientific
farming.
Connecticut River Valley North
Manchester
East Hartford
Farmington
Enfield
Windsor
Locks
Granby
Suffield
Bloomfield
Simsbury
South Windsor
Hartford
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
89
10
11
384
91
291
Connecticut River Valley South
New Britain Glastonbury
Portland
Wethersfield
Deep River
Haddam
Lyme
East Lyme
Higganum
Westbrook
Old Saybrook
Old Lyme
Middletown
95
95
91
91
84
1
2
3
4
5
1
1
9
9
9
Fairfield County and the Western Shore
Westport
Norwalk
Wilton
New Canaan
Weston
Easton
Ridgefield
Redding
Trumbull
SheltonMonroe
Stratford
Bridgeport
95
95
1
23
4
5
6
7
1
130
102
107
110
Fairfield
Thames River Valley and New London County
Lebanon Lisbon
Franklin
Colchester
Norwich
Salem
Ledyard
Waterford Mystic
East Lyme
95
95
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
1
1
395
New London
Mansfield
Coventry
Ashford
Woodstock
Stafford
Putnam
Willington
Storrs
Tolland
1
2
4
5
3
84
395
The Quiet Corner: Northeast
Torrington
Winsted
Winchester
Morris
Canaan
Salisbury
Housatonic
State Forest
Penwood
State Park
Bradley
International
Airport
Wangunbaug
Lake Mansfield
Hollow
State Park
Windham Airport
Nathan Hale
State Forest
Kent Falls
State Park
Wyantenock
State Forest
Mohawk
State Forest
Goshen
Kent
Sharon
Watertown
Washington Bethlehem
Woodbury
New Milford
Waterbury
1
2
3
4
5
7
8
9
6
8
132
341
4
4
20
20
74
2
85
85
85
82
11
3
2
2
12
20
75
4
118
309
187
187 190 159
140
112
45
41
272
47
Litchfield
Northwest Hills
Northwest
Hills
New Haven and the Shoreline
Branford
Guilford
North Branford Madison
West Haven
East Haven
Hamden
Wallingford
New Haven
95
95 95
91
91
1
2
3
4
5
6
44
44
7
7
7
7
6
202
202
202
202
5
44
44
44
6
171
275
184
138
207
198
Devil’s
Hopyard
State Park
Nehantic
State
Forest
Meshomasic
State
Forest
Millers Pond
State Park
Saugatuck
Reservoir
Hemlock
Reservoir
Collis P
Huntington
State Park
Connecticut
River
2
17
17
156
156
17 66
2
Devil’s
Hopyard
State Park
1
79
79
77
77
17
57
53
33
33
33
58
59
15
15
15
15
25
25
8
17
77
80
80
80
7
7
7
Eastford
Roxbury

2. The tours in this map feature sites of signifi-
cance and also highlight amenities that will
enhance your experience along the way. (Please
refer to the Amenities Legend to the left.) In ad-
diton, there are two more resources, the iPhone
App and the ConnecticutBarns.org website (de-
scribed below), which provide more information,
including pictures, as well as listings of barns that
may not be open to the public but can be viewed
while en route. Please refer to the example below
as a guide to the feaures of each listing. Have fun!
The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation’s
Historic Barns of Connecticut project comprises a
database of over 8,400 barns, including photographs, at
www.connecticutbarns.org — providing the information
for the Connecticut Barns Trail. Hundreds of community
volunteershelpedtoidentifybarnsintheirtowns.Wehope
that hundreds more will enjoy tours around the state to
see a small sampling of this treasure trove of Connecticut’s
agricultural past. Support for the barns research came
from the State Historic Preservation Office of the
Department of Economic and Community Develop-
ment with funds from the Community Investment Act of
the State of Connecticut. The Connecticut Barns Trail is
funded with the support of the Office of Tourism at the
Department of Economic and Community Development
and private donations.
The App complements this map – it guides you along the most scenic routes with
roadside views of barns and farms between the map’s numbered sites. You can see your
current location along with barns nearby, and get a direct route to any barn site.
The iPhone App also runs on the iPad.
Get Started Here!
The iPhone App
EXAMPLE
Seven Self-Guided
Tours by Region
2Groton,NorthStoningtonRd,B.F.Clyde’sCiderMill
860-536-3354•www.bfclydescidermill.com
Establishedin1881andreportedlytheoldeststeam-poweredcidermill
inthecountry,B.F.Clyde’soperatesoutofaVictorian-erabarnwith
adecorativelyshingledcupolaandcrossgablestypicaloftheperiod.
Sept-Oct,daily9-6;Nov-Dec9-5,Demonstration11,1,3,pm(Oct);
11,1pm(Nov).
3Ledyard,153VinegarHillRd,NathanLesterHouseand
FarmToolMuseum
860-464-8540
ThishistoricpropertyownedbytheTownofLedyardincludesa1793
farmhouseandapicturesquegroupingofconnectedbarnsprobably
datingfromthe1800s.House:MemorialDay-LaborDay,Sat-Sun,
holidays,Mon1-4:30,Tues,Thurs,2-4.
4Lisbon,291NorthBurnhamHwy,HeritageTrailVineyards
860-376-0659•www.heritagetrail.com
HeritageTrailVineyardsoccupiesthe18thcenturyJohnPalmerfarm
andincludesPalmer’s1763center-chimneysaltbox.Ofthreebarns,one
wasbuiltin1938forgrapepressingandfermentation.Thereisalsoa
1940smilkhouse.Thurs11-7;Fri-Sat11-8;Sun11-6.
5 Franklin,138BlueHillRd,BlueSlopeCountryMuseum
860-642-6413•www.blueslope.com
HometoalargeherdofHosteins,thisworkingdairyfarmseton535
acreshasbeeninthesamefamilysince1940.Visitorsmaypurchase
farm-freshmeatsandotherproducts.Thereisalsoacountrymuseum.
Callforhours.
6Colchester,544AmstonRd,ZagrayFarmMuseum
www.qvea.org
Amuseumof19thand20thcenturyfarmmachineryoperatedbythe
QuinebaugValleyEngineersAssocation,thereareseveraloriginal
buildingsincludingtheZagrayhomestead,dairybarn,machineshop,
foundry,sawmillandsheds.
Spring,summerandfallshows.
7Lebanon,168WestTownSt,WadsworthStable
860-634-3858•www.govtrumbullhousedar.org
Theclassicallyinspired1801WadsworthStableoriginallystoodonthe
groundsofCol.JeremiahWadsworthinHartford.MovedtoLebanon
bytheDaughtersoftheAmericanRevolutionin1954,itnowshowcases
antiquewagonsandtools.ThebuildingisnoteworthyforitselegantPal-
ladianfacade,distinguisedbyatriangularpedimentandDoricpilasters.
May15-Oct.15;House:Fri1-6;Sat10-5;Sun11-5;Stable:Sat.10-5;
Sun11-5.
TheQuietCorner:NortheastConnecticut
The Connecticut Trust for Historic Preservation
940 Whitney Ave, Hamden, CT 06517 (203) 562-6312 • info@cttrust.org
cttrust.org • connecticutbarns.org
Design + Content © 2013-2014, All rights reserved
RESOURCES
Jan Cunningham, Agricultural Heritage of Connecticut,
prepared for the Connecticut Trust for Historic
Preservation’s Historic Barns of Connecticut survey, 2013.
Rachel Carley, historic consultant.
John Harmon, map consultant.
Thomas D. Visser, Field Guide to New England
Barns and Farm Buildings, 1997.
iPhone App design & development by
Independent Software, New Haven.
Map design by
MISSION {Branding/Design/Strategy}
New Haven: missionbranding.com
Thank you to our co-sponsors:
1 Bethlehem, Bellamy-Ferriday House, 9 Main St North
203-266-7596 • www.ctlandmarks.org
The stately 1754 Georgian house, erected here by the Rev. Joseph
Bellamy (1719–90), renowned leader of the Great Awakening, is
equal to its beautiful setting. Perhaps best known for a lush Co-
lonial Revival garden, the grounds also feature trim white barns
dating from the 1800s: sheep shed, carriage barn and horse/cow
barn. A small grouping, yet elegant in its New England simplicity.
May–Sept, Thurs–Sun 11–4, Oct, Sat & Sun 11 am–4 pm; open
Memorial, Labor & Columbus Days
2 Litchfield, White Memorial Barn, 80 Whitehall Rd
860-567-0857 • www.whitememorialcc.org
The star building on this property is an exceptionally handsome
Colonial Revival carriage barn built for Whitehall, a 19th-century
summer estate and gentleman’s farm with expansive grounds that
are open the public. A nearby English bank barn probably dates
from the 1900s. Museum Mon–Sat 9–5; Sun 12–5; Grounds daily
during daylight hours
3 Litchfield, Bunnell Farm, 498 Maple St
860-567-9576
This 100-acre farm includes a bank barn built c. 1800 and later
expanded to serve a 20th-century dairy operation; there are also two
silos and a well house. The c. 1767 farmhouse is a classic center-
chimney colonial. Aug–Oct: Thurs–Mon 10:30 –5:30
4 Goshen, Action Wildlife Foundation, 337 Torrington Rd
860-491-9191 • www.actionwildlife.org
Dedicated to educating the public about animal life and habitats,
Action Wildlife showcases animals from around the world. The
concrete-block barn features metal vetilators and modern steel
silos. Petting zoo and exhibits. Spring, Sat–Sun 9–5:00; Sum-
mer, Tues–Fri 10:30–4:30: Fall, Thurs–Fri 11:00–3, Sat–Sun
10:30–4:30
5 East Canaan, Freund’s Farm, 324 Norfolk Rd (Rte 44)
860-824-0650 • www.freundsfarmmarket.com
The centerpiece of Freund’s is a 20th-century dairy barn: a classic
post-and-beam form with a peaked roof and banked, lower-level
milking room. An iconic feature, the triangular gable hood is
designed to protect the mechanical track used for loading hay into
the loft. Daily 9–5
6 Salisbury, Old Farm Nursery, 158 Lime Rock Rd
860-435-2272 • www.oldfarmnursery.com
This 15-acre farm with four acres of display gardens features an
English barn with a vented cupola and an unusually well-preserved
wood-stave silo. Mon–Sat 8–5; Sun 8–12
7 Washington, Averill Farm, 250 Calhoun St
860-868-2777 • www.averillfarm.com
This unspoiled farm has been in the same family since 1746,
when the Averills purchased it from the Native American sachem
Waramaug. The handsome roadside barn actually consists of three
timber-framed English-type barns connected end to end. Some 100
varieties of apples and pears are grown here. Orchard stand, Aug
15–Thanksgiving, daily 9:30–5:30; Homestead, Thanksgiving–
Christmas Eve, Daily: 9:30–dusk
8 New Milford, Hunt Hill Farm, 44 Upland Rd
860-355-0300 • www.hunthillfarmtrust.org
Visitors to this picturesque farm will find a timber-framed bank
barn (c. 1800) imaginatively re-purposed as a gallery and shop,
where housewares are displayed inside a c. 1900 wood-stave silo. A
heifer barn holds a music studio, while a c. 1840 cow barn contains a
cooking school. The complex is part of a cultural center founded by
the family of musician and composer Skitch Henderson. Weds–Sun
10–5; Sun 12–5
9 New Milford, Sullivan Farm, 140 Park Lane
860-350-4600 • www.sullivanfarmnm.org
A quintessential New England landscape. A wagon bay in a classic
roadside barn (extended English format) houses a stand for local,
naturally grown produce. A second English barn with an unusual
ridge vent serves a maple-sugaring operation, open to visitors in
February and March. Mon–Sat 11-5:30; Sun 11–4
Northwest HillsLEGEND: AMENITIES ALONG THE TRAIL
Barn Tours
Christmas Trees
Cider Mill
Dining
Events
Exhibits
Fresh Farm Goods
Garden
Garden Center
Hayrides
House Museum
Ice Cream
Maze
Nature Center
PYO Berries
PYO Orchard
PYO Pumpkins
Specialty Shops
Trails
Wine
Workshops & Programs
Zoo
1Stonington,120PequotseposRd,DenisonHomestead
FarmMarket
860-536-9248;860-536-1216•www.denisonhomestead.org
ThecenterpieceoftheDenisonHomesteadisthePequotseposMan-
orwhichwasbuiltin1717andpassedthrough11generationsofthe
DenisonfamilyandwasrestoredbyhistorianJ.FrederickKellyin
1946.Aportionofthebarncomplexprobablydatesfromthe18th
century.Thepropertyincludes140acresoftheoriginallandgrantof
1654andpreservesremnantsofstonewallsandgranitequarries.
Manor:June-Oct,Fri-Mon12-4;seasonalevents,FarmMarket
June-OctSun12-3,NatureCenter:year-roundMon-Sat9-5;
Sun10-4.
ThamesRiverValley&NewLondonCounty
1Coventry,2299SouthSt,NathanHaleHomestead
860-742-6917•www.ctlandmarks.org
Amongthebest-preservedhistoricfarmlandscapesinConnecticut,
thispropertyfeaturestwoEnglishbarnsandthe1776familyhomeof
colonialpatriotNathanHale.House:May,Sat–Sun12–4;June–Sept,
Wed–Sat12–4,Sun11–4;Oct,Sat12–4,Sun11–4Grounds:Daily
dawn–dusk.
2 Mansfield-Storrs,1HorsebarnHillExtension,
UConnLandscapeDepartmentBarn&DairyBar
860-486-1021•www.dairybar.uconn.edu
Builtin1922,thisbarnnowcontainstheLandscapeDepartmentandthe
DairyBar.Daily11–7;Fri&Sat,11–10.
3Mansfield-Storrs,3636HorsebarnHillRd,
UConnAnimalBarns
860-486-2413•animalscience.uconn.edu/visitors/tour.php
Thecampusishometofivebreedsofdairycattle,thoroughbredhorses,
pigs,sheepand150varietiesofchickens.Explorethebarnsonaself-
guidedtourandviewthedailyafternoonmilking.
Daily10–4;Milking1–4.
4Eastford,107CrystalPondRd,Buell’sOrchard
860–974–1150•www.buellsorchard.com
ThehistoricHillcrestFarmpreservestwopost-and-beambarnswhile
housingacidermillinanewmetalstructure.About100acresofthe
propertyaredevotedtoappleorchards.Mon–Sat8–5,Sun1–5;Nov–
Dec,Mon–Fri8–4,Sat8–3.
5 Woodstock,556Norwich-WorcesterTpke(Rte169),RoselandCottage
860-928-4074•www.historicnewengland.org
The1846carriagehouseatthisVictoriansummerestatewasdesignedin
thesamedistinctiveGothicRevivalstyleasthemainhouse.Itcontains
theoldestindoorbowlingalleyinAmerica!Stableandanimalpenswere
addedinthe1860s.June1–Oct15,Wed–Sun11–5.
ConnecticutRiverValleyNorth
1EastHartford,307BurnsideAve,EastHartford
HistoricalSocietyBurnhamBlacksmithShop
860-568-2884•www.hseh.org
Thehistoricalsociety’sMartinParkoffersvisitorsachancetosee
thissmithy,builtc.1850ontheBurnhamfarminEastHartford.The
interior,whichdisplaystoolsandartifactsrelatedtofarmingand
tobaccocultivation,isopentothepublicduringthesummer.Call
forinformation.
2WindsorLocks,58WestSt,Noden-ReedBarnandHouse
860-627-9212
Abrickbarn,twostorieswithagableroofandplain,louveredcu-
pola.BrickbarnsarerareinNewEngland.Operatedasafarminto
the20thcenturywhenitwaswilledtothetown.May-Oct,Sun1-4
orbyappt.
3Suffield,55SouthMainSt,Phelps-HathewayHouseand
Garden
860-668-0055•www.ctlandmarks.org
ThiscolonialmansionwasbuiltbyaTorysympathizerin1761and
expandedaftertheRevolutionaryWar.Thepropertypreservesan
extendedEnglishbankbarnbuiltinthe1900s,acoachhouse,anda
carriagehouseandstable.
May-Oct,Sat-Sun1-4
4Suffield,472HillSt,HastingsFamilyFarm
860-668-7524•www.hastingsfamilyfarm.com
Amulti-partcomplexonthissiteincludesa19th-centuryEnglish
barnexpandedwitha20th-centurygambrel-roofeddairybarn.
Daily,8-6:30.
5Windsor,135LangRd,NorthwestPark&
Luddy/TaylorConnecticutValleyTobaccoMuseum
Park:860-285-1886•www.northwestpark.org
Museum:860-285-1888•www.tobaccohistsoc.org
NorthwestParkcontainsaVictorianfarmhousesurroundedby
numeroushistorictobaccoshedsandover470acresofopenfields,
woodlands,andpondslocatedalongthebanksoftheFarmington
River.Severaloftheshedshavebeenre-usedforanaturecenter,ani-
malbarn,picnicshelter,workshop,andtheTobaccoMuseum.Atthe
Luddy/TaylorTobaccoMuseum,exhibitspreservetheartifactsand
historyofthecigartobaccoagriculturaltraditionwhichhasbeen
significanttotheeconomyandhistoryoftheConnecticutRiverVal-
leysincethelate1800s.Park,Dawntodusk;
TobaccoMuseum,Mar-Dec:Tues-Thurs,Saturdays12-4;
NatureCenter&GiftShop,Monday—Saturday8:30-4:30
6WestGranby,76SimsburyRd,GarlicFarm
860-653-0291•www.garlicfarmct.com
Barnisaconvertedtobaccoshed,nowamultipurposebarn.Garlic
FarmrunsaCommunitySupportedAgricultureandafarmstand
sellingavarietyofproduceincludinggarlic.Summer-Fall,daily
10-6.
7Granby,113SimsburyRd,HolcombFarm
860-844-8616•www.holcombfarm.com
Twolargebarnsontheproperty,oneacross-gabledgambrel-roofed
dairybarnwiththreeventilators.Thefarmwasownedbysevengen-
erationsoftheHolcombfamilybeforebeingwilledtotheUniver-
sityofConnecticutin1976.ThetownofGranbytookownershipin
1990andrunsitasanagricultural/environmentaleducationfacility.
Trails:dawntodusk;Buildings-basedoneventhours.
8Simsbury,800HopmeadowSt,SimsburyHistoricalSociety,
PhelpsBarn
860-658-2500•www.simsburyhistory.org
Thesiteincludesan1890sbarn,outfittedwithboxstallsandaharness
room,builttohousethecarriagesandmatchedhorsesofJeffreyO.
Phelps,II.AlsoofinterestisawhimsicalQueenAnne-stylecarriage
housemovedtothesite.MidApril-MidOctober,Thurs-Sat12-4.
9Simsbury,255FarmsVillageRd,TulmeadowFarm
860-658-1430•www.tulmeadowfarmstore.com
ThefarmhasbeenintheTullerfamilysince1768undervariousnames.
Thebarnshavesupportedmanytypesofagricultureincludingdairy
cattle,eggsandorchardproducts.Thebarnsareaconnectedsetof
variousformswiththreeconcretestavesilos.Summerdaily9-9;ice
creamwindow12-9Fall.
10Simsbury,7ShingleMillRd,FlamigFarm
860-658-5070•www.flamigfarm.com
LargeEnglishbankbarncontainsthefarmstoreandstorage.Asecond
largepoultrybarnsupportstheeggsales.Thefarmoffersschoolstours,
summereducationalprogramsforchildrenandovernightstays.
Mon-Sun9-5.
11Farmington,35MountainRd,Hill-SteadMuseum
860-677-4787•www.hillstead.org
Thisproperty,hometonotedarchitectTheodatePopeRiddle,includes
twonoteworthybarnclusters.AdjacenttoRiddle’sgraciousart-filled
1901houseisacolonial-inspiredcarriagebarnthatshedesignedin
1908.Amongthosebuildingssurvivingfromtheworkingfarmonthe
propertyareac.1765farmhouse,a19thcenturyhorsebarnandan1898
haybarn.Tues-Sunday10-4;closedMondaysandmajorholidays.
ConnecticutRiverValleySouth
1 Wethersfield,211MainSt,Webb-Dean-StevensMuseum:
WebbBarn
860-529-0612•www.webb-deane-stevens.org
Thec.1840WebbBarnisashowpieceofthisgroupofimpressivecolonial
housespreservedbytheNationalSocietyofColonialDames,CT.Agood
exampleofthetraditionalEnglishform,itsmassivetimberframeoffers
afirst-handviewof19th-centurybarn-buildingtechnology.May–Oct&
Dec,dailyexceptTues,10–4,Sun1–4;AprilandNov,Sat10–4Sun1-4.
2 Glastonbury,972MainSt,WellesShipmanWardHouse
860-633-6890•www.hsgct.org/WSWhouse
ThislocationhasexamplesofthreeclassicbarntypesoftheConnecticut
Valley.Themostrecentadditionisan1870srenovatedtobaccoshed
movedtothislocation.Thereisalsoa1790Englishbankbarnanda19th
centurysmallNewEnglandbarn.Jun-Aug,Tues1-4.
3 EastLyme,33SocietyRd,Smith-HarrisHouse
860-739-0761•www.smithharris.org
Englishbarnandasecond,smaller,Englishbarnandoutbuilding.The
Smith-HarrisHouse,anexampleoftheGreekRevivalstyle,wasbuiltin
1845.Followsignstothelibraryandturndownthedirtroadthatleadsto
thebarnsandfarmhouse.June-Aug,Fri-Sun,12-4.
FairfieldCountyandtheWesternShore
1Westport,25 AveryPlace,MuseumofWestportHistory
203-222-1424•www.westporthistory.org
TheMuseumofWestportHistoryishousedinthec.1850Victorian-
eraBradley-WheelerBarn,aseven-sidedcobblestonestructure
trimmedwithbrick(itsoriginaluseisamystery).Thehandsome
Italianate-stylehouseonthehistoricalsociety’spropertydatesfrom
thesameperiod.Mon–Fri10–4;Sat12–4April1–Nov30.
2Weston,104WestonRd(Rte57),WestonHistorical
SocietyColeyHomestead
203-226-1804•www.westonhistoricalsociety.org
Housinganextensivetoolcollection,the1883barnonthishistoric
siteoriginallystoredhayandgrain.ItisatraditionalEnglishdesign
withanattachedlivestockshed.Thepropertyalsofeaturesac.1840
carriagehouseandasmokehouse.Sat10:30–12:30orbyappt.
3 Wilton,224DanburyRd,WiltonHistoricalSociety
203-762-7657•www.wiltonhistorical.org
Theopen,two-storyspace,andexposedhand-hewnframeofthe
19th-centuryAbbotbarn(Englishbankform)makesastunning
backdropforthe600toolsondisplayhere.TheBurtbarnhouses
toys.Youcanalsovisitan1890smithywithaworkingforge.
Tues–Fri10–5;Sat1–5;2nd&4thSun1–4.
4Wilton/Ridgefield,735NodHillRd,WeirFarmNational
HistoricSite
203-834-1896•www.nps.gov/wefa
AfterartistJ.AldenWeirpurchasedthisformerworkingfarmashis
summerhomein1882,thefamedAmericanImpressionistcontin-
uedtofindinspirationinitsunspoiledruralsetting.The60-acreNa-
tionalPark’stwohistoricEnglishbarns(c.1800andc.1820)appear
repeatedlyintheworkofWeirandofthesubsequentartistswho
livedhere.Grounds:Dailydawn–dusk;VisitorCenter:Wed–
Sun10–4,April–Nov;Sat-Sun10-4,Dec–Mar.
5 Ridgefield,132MainSt,KeelerTavernMuseumand
GardenHouse
203-538-5485•www.keelertavernmuseum.org
Attheendofthedriveway,a2-storyside-oreave-entrycarriage
housebankbarnwithagambrel-roofedcross-gable.
Wed,Sat-Sun1-4.
6 Easton,355SportHillRd,SherwoodFarm
203-268-6705•www.sherwoodfarm.org
AbeautifulpropertyfarmedcontinouslybySherwoodssince1717.
Offeringfreshstrawberries,eggs,honeyandanendlessvarietyof
vegetables,thefarmstandoccupiesanEnglishbankbarnwithan
attachedmilkhouse.Mon-Fri10-6:30,Sat-Sun9-6.
7 Shelton,606WalnutTreeHillRd,JonesFamilyFarm
Winery,HomesteadFarm
203-925-8425•www.jonesfamilyfarms.com/winery
Shelton’sBroadAcresDairyFarmoperatedatthis400-acreproperty
fromthelate1800stothe1960s.Thefarm’sspectaculargambrel-
roofedbankbarn(builtarounda19th-centurytimber-framed
Englishbarn)hasfoundnewlifeasawine-tastingroom.Sitealso
includesacalvingshed,icehouseandrootcellar.
Winery:Spring–Fall,Fri–Sun11-5
USRoute6inSouthbury!
CheckouttheRaglandFarm/BenjaminStilesBarnlocatedat1127
MainStreetNorth(Rte6).
Thisisoneoftheoldestbarns
inthestate.Itwasbuiltc.
1690andremainsonafarm
stillworkedbydescendants
ofitsoriginalbuilder.Also
foundonRte6isoneof
theonlypolygonalbarnsin
Connecticut.
Don’t
Miss!
BristolFarminCollinsville!
Locatedat541AlbanyTurnpike,thisc.
1870carriagebarnhasVictoriandecorative
elementsandalargecupolawithpairsof
archedwindowsonallfoursides.Also,drive
alongRoute179inCantontoseenumerous
barnsonbothsidesoftheroad!
Hilltop Farm in Suffield
Don’t
Miss!
If you’re in the area,
drive by the large
white barn at Hilltop
Farm located at 1608
Mapleton Avenue (Rte.
159). Built for George
Hendee (founder of
Indian Motorcycle Co.),
this barn was completed
in 1914. At the time,
it boasted modern
and sanitary features,
many of which operated
automatically. Today, it
is a Suffield landmark,
so be sure to check it out!
Get the free iPhone app at the iTunes App Store! Just search for: CT BARNS.
ConnecticutBarns.org
The website with 8000 barns!
Choose one of our 169 towns and
browse the barns on a map or list
- explore beyond the Barns Trail.
4EastLyme,228WestMainSt,EastLymeHistorical
Society;ThomasLeeHouse
860-739-6070•www.eastlymehistoricalsociety.org
TheThomasLeeHouseisoneoftheoldestwoodframehousesinCTin
itsprimitivestate.Builtc.1660itwasaddedtoin1700and1765and
becamethepropertyoftheEastLymeHistoricalSocietyin1914.Alsoon
thegroundsistheLittleBostonSchoolHouse.Itwasbuiltin1805across
theroad,functionedasaschooluntil1922andwasmovedtoitscurrent
location.Jul-Aug,Wed-Sun1-4.
5DeepRiver,245MainSt,DeepRiverHistoricalSociety;
StoneHouse
860-526-1449•www.deepriverhistoricalsociety.org
Thecross-gablecarriagebarnonthissitewasbuiltc.1899bydescendants
ofEzraSouthworth,whoerectedtheelegant1840stonehouse.Vehicles,
includingamule-drawnschoolbus,areondisplay.Thepropertyalso
includesableachhouse,onceusedforbleachingivory.Callforhours.
connecticutbarns.org
Don’t
Miss!
For instance,
in Sterling,
stop for ice
cream at
the Brown
Cow Cafe on
Ekonk Hill!
NewHavenandtheShoreline
1NewHaven,EdgertonPark,75CliffSt,BrewsterEstate
203-946-8009•www.edgertonpark.org
Theoriginalmansionisgone,butthegatehouse,carriagehouse,wall,
andgreenhousesremain.BuildingsaremasonryTudorRevival-style.
Theparkandgreenhousesareopendailywhilethecarriagehousecon-
tainsahorticulturallibraryandhistoricphotographs.Entrytothepark
isoffEdgehillSt.Parkandgreenhousesdaily9-5.Carriagehouse
Sun1-4byappt.
2NorthBranford,33BranfordRd,RoseOrchards
203-488-7996•www.roseorchardsfarm.com
Thefarmhasbeenanorchard,wipedoutintheHurricaneof‘38,
changedtoadairyfarmandbacktoanorchardintheearly1970s.A
convertedgambrelroofdairybarnholdsthefarmstand.Therearealso
twopolebarnsandaNewEnglandeaveentrybarnwithanaddedwater
wheel.Daily9–6.
3 Guilford,2351DurhamRd,DudleyFarm
203-457-0770•www.dudleyfarm.com
Onceusedtosellboatlumber,the1860sMungerBarnwasmovedfrom
Madisontothisfarmmuseumin2002.Atraditionalbankbarnwitha
beautifulstonefoundation.May–Oct,Thurs–Sat10–1;Sun1–4.
4Guilford,31LakeDrive,LakesideFeedandLlamas
203-457-1461•www.lakesidefeed.com
BarncomplexwithextendedEnglishbarn,polebarnsandgambrelroof
barn.Storesellsanimalfeeds,bedding,hay,petsuppliesandgifts.Mon
closed,Tues-Fri9-6,Sat9-4,Sun9-3
5 Madison,853BostonPostRd,MadisonHistorical
Society;Allis-BushnellHouse
203-245-45672•www.madisoncthistorical.org
AveryfinecorncribremovedfromtheScrantonFarm.Thebarnis
locatedintheyardbehindtheAllis-BushnellHouse.Noticethespacing
betweentheverticalsideboardstoaidindryingthecorn.Theinwardly-
slantedsideboardshelpedkeeprainout.Thereisalsoasecondextend-
edEnglishbarnthatappearstobeoriginalwiththehouse.Grounds:
Daily8am-sundown;House:Seasonaleventsandopenhouses.
6Guilford,1355BostonPostRd,Bishop’sOrchard
203-458-7425•www.bishopsorchards.com
Thisbarn-likestorehasbeenintheBishopfamilysince1871.Theorigi-
nalfarmmarketwasverysmallandhasbeenexpandedseveraltimesto
resembleacross-gableddairybarn.Acoldstorageadditionforapples
wasaddedintherearin1988.Farmmarket:Mon–Sat8–7;Sun9–6;
Winery:Mon–Sat10–7;Sun11–6.
Name
of Region
Number
on Map Amenities
Phone &
Web Address
Town,
Name of Barn,
Street Address
HoursBarn
Types
Description
Connecticut
Barns Trail
The
9 Simsbury, 255 Farms Village Rd, Tulmeadow Farm
860-658-1430 • www.tulmeadowfarmstore.com
The farm has been in the Tuller family since 1768 under vari-
ous names. The barns have supported many types of agriculture
including dairy cattle, eggs and orchard products. The barns are
a connected set of various forms with three concrete stave silos.
Summer daily 9-9; ice cream window 12-9 Fall.
Connecticut River Valley North
Don’t
Miss!