Barn Colors

'Why are barns red?' you ask yourself as you drive through the countryside and notice all of the old barns are red. This is a question that has been asked many times in the last couple of centuries. Actually it depends on where you are driving as to what color you will predominantly see barns painted.

The barns in Kentucky and other tobacco states are painted black, brown, or some other dark color to help heat the barn where tobacco is curing. In the mid Atlantic states, white dairy barns stand out supposedly to denote cleanliness and sanitation.

It is in New England and the upper Midwest that red barns are everywhere to be seen.


STORY LINKS:
Barn Dances
Why Are Barns Red?

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Each Old Barn Has a Story

When you pass an old barn, it isn't just an old structure of now-weathered boards, it's a piece of history and each has its own story. There are thousands of old barns across American and they have given rise to a wealth of old barn folklore. Folks depict some old barns as happy, other profoundly sad, some out-right funny, and others seen as scary enough to be in a Stephen King novel! We don't know if the folklore on barns is true or not, but we do know the stories are extremely interesting.

While we haven't chronicled every individual old barn story, we have explained who built some of these grand old barns, how they built them, and why they built them that way. The other thing that we've tried to emphasize is that each individual barn is different and has its own personality. That personality more than likely has a story or two to go along with it.

Which Old Barn Folklore Stories are True?

Exploring more about old barns is great wholesome family fun. So lean back, get your mouse comfy in your hand, and let's explore some of the things we know about old barns. We might debunk some of the old barn stories; but on the other hand, maybe we can at least explain them so that they make sense.
Prepare yourself for an adventure that is somewhere between a history lesson, a science lesson, and a cultural lesson. Old barns are wonderfully mysterious, nostalgic, and inviting. Have that mouse ready? Okay… click on one of the story links at left to learn more about old barns in America!