For generations, barns have stood as landmarks across the Iowa landscape — places of hard work, family stories, and community pride. The Iowa Barn Foundation is once again giving Iowans and visitors a chance to step inside that history with its annual barn tours.
Each year, the organization holds two events: the Fall All-State Barn Tour in September and a regional Spring Barn Tour in June. The self-guided tours are free and open to the public thanks to the generous donors who support the cause. These events give participants the chance to see dozens of historic barns, each with their own unique architecture and story to tell.
This fall, the statewide tour will take place September 13–14, 2025, featuring more than 100 barns across Iowa. Fairfield’s own Maasdam Barns, a local treasure and gathering place, will be part of the lineup.
Jefferson County will play an even bigger role the following summer. On June 27–28, 2026, the Spring Barn Tour will bring visitors to 10 to 15 barns throughout the Fairfield area. As part of the preparation, the foundation will visit Jefferson County this October to photograph the barns and gather their histories for next year’s tour. Maasdam Barns will also serve as the Saturday lunch host site during the spring tour, offering guests a chance to connect while taking in the scenery. More details about the spring tour are expected next March.
The tradition continues in the fall of 2026, when the statewide tour returns on September 19–20. This time, more than 90 barns will be showcased across Iowa, with details to be announced in June.
For the Iowa Barn Foundation, the tours are more than sightseeing opportunities — they’re a way to preserve rural heritage and celebrate the communities that continue to care for these structures. For Jefferson County, it’s a chance to shine a spotlight on its own historic barns and share their stories with visitors from near and far.
