The ground floor housed livestock, while the second floor was used to store hay. One of the prairie barn's most distinguishing features is its large hayloft and peaked roof. They're the places of the prairie. Familiar, wholesome structures that remind us of farming's glory days. The barn is an American icon , especially in South Dakota, where agriculture remains both an economic force and a family tradition.
Barns are our links to the past.
Each one tells a story . . . of pioneers who homesteaded the land, of generations and families tending to earth and animals, of modern-day farmers working to keep the family farm afloat. After viewing examples of nails and roofing materials, historic images of barns and a scale model of an English-style barn, you'll take home a new appreciation for these dependable structures. You'll learn about different barn styles and how they accommodate different types of farming. You'll discover how barn architecture expresses American ideals. And, you'll see how barns are portrayed in popular culture.