HBFF Announces Release of of the Pennsylvania Barns 250 Documentary Trailer
The PA Barns 250 documentary by the Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania celebrates Pennsylvania’s rich agricultural heritage, channeling America’s 250th celebrations.
The Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania (HBFF) announces the release of the official trailer for Pennsylvania Barns 250, a documentary created in recognition of America’s 250th anniversary. The project highlights more than a dozen of the Commonwealth’s most iconic historic barns. While not all of the barns are 250 years old, each was selected for its architectural character, historical significance, and its role in shaping Pennsylvania’s early agricultural landscape.
These barns—our cathedrals in the field—stand guard over the crops that fed families and communities. The project preserves these stories so future generations can understand the lessons learned and the way of life these structures represent across the Commonwealth.
‘Every barn tells a story’ of the lives of our earliest settlers.
About the PA Barns 250 Trailer
Enjoy the official trailer for PA Barns 250, created by the Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania to highlight the Commonwealth’s agricultural heritage for America’s 250th now available on YouTube. The trailer provides a first look at the rare interior access, owner interviews, expert commentary, and aerial photography featured throughout the full documentary series.
About the Project
What is the project: The PABarn250 documentary, sponsored by the Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of PA (HBFF), channels the America 250 celebrations, but from a barn perspective. It profiles a dozen of the Commonwealth’s most iconic historic barns. These barns have architectural character; some having played a supporting role during the Revolution.
Why is this project important?
Historic barns are the canary in the coal mine to measure the vibrancy of local family farm heritage. They are cathedrals in the field. They represent more than stone and limber structures, but the history of a farming community, the skill of local craftsmen, and a witness to community events. They are also endangered. Endangered by suburban sprawl, declining agricultural profits, land conversion to warehouses and data centers, and the lack of apprenticeship programs in wood framing and traditional masonry.
The documentary allows viewers with rare access to these amazing historic barns, including interviews with the owners.
Project Leadership and Production
The project, led by HBFF Director and project chair Curtis Vreeland, included HBFF subject-matter experts, interns from Franklin & Marshall College, a professional videographer, and a professional aerial photographer. Filming took place across Pennsylvania earlier this year, with post-production completed over the summer.
Statement from the President
“In recognition of America’s 250th anniversary, this documentary offers both a celebration of our heritage and a warning about what is at risk. These barns are physical testaments to the Commonwealth’s earliest communities, their craftsmanship, and their resilience. HBFF is committed to documenting and protecting these structures before more are lost. The urgency is real, and the time to act is now.”
About the Documentary
Premiering free on YouTube early this fall, the documentary brings Pennsylvania’s barn heritage to a statewide—and national—audience.
Pennsylvania’s historic barns are vital records of the Commonwealth’s early settlers, agricultural traditions, craftsmanship, and rural communities. To honor this heritage for America’s 250th, HBFF is producing a 40-minute documentary featuring regional barn styles, colonial farming practices, decorative traditions, and practical preservation guidance.
Support the Project
Preservation Pennsylvania is serving as the fiscal sponsor for the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation. Please make a gift today and help ensure that Pennsylvania’s historic barns are seen, understood, and preserved for generations to come. All funds raised go to the Historic Barn and Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania for the production and distribution of this video.
Your contribution will directly support student filmmakers, professional mentoring, production expenses, and travel to historic barns throughout the Commonwealth. By donating, you will help document these irreplaceable places, share their stories with a wider audience, and inspire future preservation efforts.
Click here to donate: Pennsylvania’s Historic Barns: Stories Worth Saving
Special thanks are extended to Curtis Vreeland and Preservation Pennsylvania for their support, expertise, and commitment to advancing barn preservation across the Commonwealth.
About HBFF
The Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing educational resources for the long-term preservation, protection, and documentation of historic barns in Pennsylvania and the agricultural heritage of the Commonwealth. HBFF advances this mission through educational programming, annual barn tours, and a matching grant program supporting historically appropriate barn repairs.
Media Contact
Priscilla deLeon, President
PriscilladeLeonHBFF@aol.com
Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania
Website: https://pahistoricbarns.org/
Facebook: Historic Barn & Farm Foundation of Pennsylvania