Open Barn Day at Glidden Homestead

Name: Open Barn Day at Glidden Homestead
Start: 2025-06-22T12:00:00-05:00
End: 2025-06-22T16:00:00-05:00
Location: J. F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center

Schedule

Sun Jun 22 2025 at 12:00 pm to 04:00 pm

UTC-05:00

Location

J. F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center | Dekalb, IL

BARN TOURS EVERY HALF HOUR STARTING AT NOON
HOUSE TOURS AT 12:30 and 2:30 PM
CRAFT FOR CHILDREN PROVIDED
BLACKSMITHING DEMOS ALL DAY
From noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday, June 22, the Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center’s Open Barn Day will give visitors a unique chance to see the inside of the historic barn where “The Winner” barbed wire was invented and initially manufactured.
Admission is $5 for adults; children younger than 14 and homestead members are admitted free.
The barn, located at 921 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, is perhaps the most historically significant in the country, according to historic preservationist Roger Keys, because it is where Glidden invented and manufactured the first practical barbed wire. Keys, who has done much work on the Homestead house and barn, will give tours every half hour starting at noon.
The brick barn was built circa 1870. Glidden’s first barbed wire manufacturing office was located in the southeast corner of the barn.
The Phineas Vaughan Blacksmith Shop at the Glidden Homestead also will be open and operating that day. Volunteer blacksmiths will provide a glimpse into living-history as they provide demonstrations of the craft. The historic Glidden home will also be open for docent-led tours starting at 12:30 and 2:30 pm. There will be a farm animal craft available for children.
The Joseph F. Glidden Homestead and Historical Center is a not-for-profit organization working to preserve the home and barn, while providing educational opportunities to the public. The house and Welcome Center are open from noon to 4 p.m. each Sunday. For more information, call 815-756-7904, visit www.gliddenhomestead.org or visit J.F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center on Facebook.