by Bob McIlhenny
At Historic Gettysburg Adams County, “We Brake for Barns!” as our popular bumper sticker declares. Come join us in a day of barn appreciation when HGAC’s third Historic Barns Tour of Gettysburg and Adams County commences on Saturday, Sept. 21, from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Travel back in time and enjoy this rare opportunity to visit six historic barns near Gettysburg. The family-friendly tour includes privately owned barns that are not usually open to the public. One barn on the tour served as a field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg. Kids under 18 are free, and the event will be held rain or shine.
Advance tickets may be purchased on line until September 19 through Eventbrite — or visit HGAConline.org and click on the Barn Tour link. Adults are $35 in advance, and $40 on the day of the event. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
The tour begins at the historic Round Barn at 298 Cashtown Road, Biglerville, PA. Participants must check in between 10 a.m. and noon and will receive a booklet and map showing the locations of the barns on the tour. After exploring the Round Barn and Farm Market, participants can then drive to any barn on the tour, in any order, and stay as long as they wish. The tour ends at 4 p.m.
Each barn will feature family-friendly activities throughout the day. There will be a cider press and cider tastings, and demonstrations of timber framing techniques. Local artists and crafters will display and sell their art works in the barns. The Panera Tatters will demonstrate tatting and lace making, and Civil War living history characters will tell of life in the mid-1800’s, when the barns on the tour were built.
Young visitors can also receive a windshield scavenger hunt called “Barn Quest,” which encourages students to identify architectural details of our historic Pennsylvania barns. HGAC hopes that parents will bring their kids and grandparents will bring their grandchildren to see inside these great old barns.
Proceeds from this event benefit the award-winning HGAC Barn Preservation Project and Grant Program. Curt Musselman, HGAC Preservation Committee chair, noted that “ HGAC has provided matching grant funding to more than 50 owners of historic barns in Adams County since 2013.” In 2020, HGAC received the Henry A. Jordan Award from Preservation PA for its “outstanding historic preservation efforts at the local level.” Help us save more old historic barns – join us for the 2024 Barn Tour!
For additional information, contact Bob Mcilhenny at (717) 420-6500 or RMcilhenny@comcast.net
— Bob McIlhenny is Director of Development of the Barn Preservation Project and Grant Program sponsored by Historic Gettysburg – Adams County (HGAC)