Boards on the Barn

This blog is the Northern Star Navigation guide to the Barn Quilts IN, and near, Lancaster County, Nebraska.

The center of the county holds the large capitol city of Lincoln, but the surrounding countryside is close at hand.  Just a short drive outside the city limits brings you to the many acreages dotting the rolling hills and flat prairielands.

This is the place to plan your trip and report those off the beaten path barn quilts mounted on homes, outbuildings, barns, and even outhouses! They can be big or small, but they are always creative and colorful.

Wondering what the history of these squares are?  Instead of repeating it all here, the accuquilt company did a great job of going into the details on their history, so I think I'll just let them share it with you here.

Although the Barn Quilt movement is relatively young, the concept of marking your buildings, or more specifically your barns, is not new.  But in the United States, especially in the Eastern third, the Pennsylvania Amish (or Dutch) mark their barns with traditional Hex marks.  These were originally used, back to Medieval Europe to ward of evil spirits and protect livestock.  They now hold special meaning to families and are marks for good luck, friendship, love, marriage, etc.  And let's face it, their just darn pretty too.  (In fact, our new barn will have an Amish Hex Sign on it.)

Our own outbuilding sports a 4x4 foot modified Mariners Compass on Point, with an interwoven red ring.  It is the symbol for our farm, DunRovinDunRovin' Station.

So while you are driving around, keep your eyes open for these little patches of color.  They do turn up in some of the oddest places, as well as on the standard barn.  They seem to be a little easier to spot in the fall and winter, when the dull sienna landscape fades back and allows the brightly colored designs to pop!

Find a Barn Square not on the map?  Do you have a square that isn't on the map?

Email me and we'll add it so that others will be able to visit.  Please make sure it can be seen from a public road.  If you can, you can send along a photo(s) and the name of the pattern on the square.  An address is, of course, needed.

Looking for instructions on how to build a square of your own? Making a Barn Square


Thanks for visiting and come back soon to see the updated map.