Why Are Barns Red? We Explain
Ever wonder why so many barns are painted red? The reason is a mix of being practical and following tradition.
A long time ago, in the early days of farming in the United States, the weather could damage wooden barns quickly. To keep barns safe, farmers would use linseed oil on the wood. Linseed oil comes from flaxseed, has a brownish-orange color, and gave the wood some protection.
But farmers wanted to make the oil work even better. So they mixed in milk, lime, and rust. The milk and lime made the oil stick to the wood better. The iron in the rust prevented fungus and mildew from growing. This was especially helpful against rain and snow. These additions made the brownish-orange oil more of a dark red color.
The red color also came in handy on farms with long, dark winters. A red barn was easy to see, which made it simpler for farmers to find their way around, even in bad weather.
When new kinds of paint came along, people kept painting barns red. It reminded them of the country and the past. Many farmers still picked red paint. They liked how it looked, and it meant something to them.
Even today, we still paint barns red a lot. It might be to remember history, keep the barn safe, or just make the farm look nicer. Either way, the red barn is still an important part of farming in America.
Join the Discussion
What do you think of the red barn painting tradition?
Do you have a red barn? How about your neighbor?
Were you surprised? Would you share this wisdom with a friend?
Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
- Farmers' Almanac Staffhttps://www.farmersalmanac.com/author/fa-admin
I agree with you Rick my great grandpa never painted his barn and it is still standing today weathered but in excellent shape
I do not agree that barns were painted red for the protection of the barn barn boards were never painted if not treated the boards would be harder then it painted and better protected that’s why you see barn boards over 100 years old that are gray in color because they have never been touched
Right. Mostly Hemlock was used for barn siding . It is very impervious to weather.
To honor the roosters some have beautiful colors and I believe they attract all animals for feed and Love and confront and shelter! Thus they picked the color Red!
Did people honour animals of any kind, at any time? N.A. Aboriginals and people from India are the only peoples I’m aware of who honour animals. Along with some other tribal peoples whose very existence relies on them for food. We whites have shown repeatedly through history to be quite cruel to livestock.
My barn is red, it needs new paint, but I’m thinking of something different. I love the look of the tabacco barns in the south. Kentucky is my husband’s birth place. We live in Webberville mi.
There are several painted black barns north of Howell, MI and around lower Genesee Co. I think they look beautiful!!