Hex Barn Art Tour - Greater Reading Convention and Visitors Bureau

A Self-driving Tour of Fancy Dutch Country Folk Barn Art
Art Tour
Get lost in history...
Hex BarnHex
ArtBarn
Tour
We recommend starting early, as the tour will take much of the day, if you choose
to enjoy the attractions along the way.
Mileage Miles to Location
A Self-driving Tour of Fancy Dutch Country Folk Barn Art
PA German Cultural Heritage Center,
A Self-driving Tour of22Fancy
Dutch
Country
Folk
Barn
Artearly, The
birthtour
of the
signmuch
was long
believed
be the
mid-1800s
We
recommend
starting
as the
willhex
take
of the
day, iftoyou
choose
Luckenbill
Road,
Kutztown
PA 19530,
when
the affordability of paint gave a green light to farmers’
www.kutztown,edu/community/pgchc
to enjoy the attractions along the
way.
sides;choose
however, new research suggests hex signs
We recommend
early,
as and
the Crystal
tour will
day, if you
0.0 starting
Kutztown
Road
Cavetake
Road,much of the creative
Mileage
to Location
existed even earlier. Historians have discovered four foot wooden
Tour
sTarT
zero you Miles
odometer.
to enjoy the attractions
along
the—
way.
-1.0
PA German Cultural
Center,
set
intomid-1800s
stone
wall on the gable
ends the
of barns as far back
The birth
of0.6the hex
beHeritage
the
when
1
On rightsign was long believed to stars
The birth of
hex sign was long believed to be the mid-1800s
22 Luckenbill Road,
PA 19530,
asKutztown
the late 1700s.
Since the height
of the hexthecraze
in the early
Mileage2 Miles to0.9of
Location
On rightgave
- facing Sharidin
Road light
affordability
paint
a green
to farmers’
creative
sides;
however,
new
when
the affordability
of paint gave a green light to farmers’
www.kutztown,edu/community/pgchc
th
century,
progress
and
neglect
have
devastated
the county’s
20
-1.0 1.7PA German
Cultural
Heritage
Center,
creative
sides;
however,
new research suggests hex signs
Bear
right
onto
Crystal
Cave
Road
0.0
Kutztown
Road
and
Crystal
Cave
Road,
research suggests
hex
signs
existed
even
earlier.
Historians
have
discovered
historic
barns
and
their
art.
It
is
no
wonder
those
remaining
today
The
birth
of
the
hex
sign
was
long
believed
to
be
the
mid-1800s
22 Luckenbill Road, Kutztown PA 19530, Tour sTarT — zero you odometer.
existed even earlier. Historians have discovered four foot wooden
3
1.8
On right
are
and
celebrated
not
only
as
Berks
County
treasures
when
theprotected
affordability
of
paintof
gave
astars
green
light
to
farmers’
www.kutztown,edu/community/pgchc
four foot
wooden
stars set1into stone
wall
on
the
gable
ends
barns
as
far
back
set into stone wall on the gable ends of barns as far back
0.6
On
right
KCrystal Cave www.crystalcavepa.com
3.3
but as
American
treasures
as well.
creative
sides;
new research
hex signs
0.0 1700s.
KutztownSince
Road and Crystal
Cave0.9
Road,ofOnthe
as suggests
thecentury,
late 1700s.
Since the height of the hex craze in the early
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the
height
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inhowever,
the
early
20th
2 right)
right -hex
facing
Sharidin
5.0TourStutzman
Farm
th
existed
evenRoad
earlier. Historians have 20
discovered
foot wooden
sTarT —
zero(onyou
odometer.
century,four
progress
and neglect have devastated the county’s
progress
and
neglect
have
devastated
theonto
county’s
historic
barns
and
their
art.
1.7
Bear right
Crystal
Cave
Road
5
5.4
Dreibelbis
Farm
(on
left,
rear)
stars set into stone wall on the gablehistoric
ends ofbarns
barns
far back
andastheir
art. It is no wonder those remaining today
1
0.6
On right
3
1.8
On
right
It 2is no 0.9
wonder
those
remaining
and
notcraze
only
protected
andincelebrated
as the late 1700s.
Sincecelebrated
the height ofarethe
hex
theas
early not only as Berks County treasures
6.0On right
Turn
left on
Rt 143 SRoad today are protected
- facing
Sharidin
thwww.crystalcavepa.com
K
Crystal
Cave
3.3
but as
American the
treasures
as well.
progress
and neglect have
devastated
county’s
20 century, as
On left, rear but as American treasures
Berks6County
treasures
well.
1.7 6.6Bear
right
onto Crystal Cave
Road
4
5.0
Stutzman Farm
(on right)
historic
barns and their art. It is no wonder those remaining today
7
7.1
On right
3
1.8
On right
5
5.4
Dreibelbis Farm
left, rear)and celebrated not only as Berks County treasures
are(on
protected
8.3
Turn right on Rt 662 N
KCrystal Cave www.crystalcavepa.com
3.3
6.0
Turn left on Rtbut
143
asSAmerican treasures as well.
Mileage
Miles
to
8
8.6
On right,Location
facing Gift Road
4
5.0
Stutzman Farm (on right)6
6.6
On left, rear
9.7 On left PA German Cultural Heritage Center,
5 9 5.4 -1.0
On right
Dreibelbis Farm (on left,7rear) 7.1
10
12.4
On left
Kutztown
8.3 Road,
Turn right
on Rt 662 N PA 19530,
6.0
Turn left on Rt22
143Luckenbill
S
12.5
Turn right onto Windsor
Castle
Road On right, facing Gift Road
8
8.6
6
6.6
On left, rear www.kutztown,edu/community/pgchc
11
12.6
Christman Farm (on
and
9 right Road
9.7left) and
On left Crystal Cave Road,
7
rightOn rightKutztown
7.1 0.0On
14.2
onto Virginville
10 Road
12.4
On left
8.3
Turn
right
on
Rt
662
N
TOUR
START
—
ZERO YOU ODOMETER.
12
14.2
On left at intersection
12.5
Turn right onto Windsor Castle Road
On
facing
Gift(on
Road
1 8
right,
On
right
138.6 0.6
14.4
Epting
Farm
left)
11
12.6
Christman Farm (on right and left)
On
149.7 0.9
14.5
left) - facing
2 9
leftAdam Farm
On(onright
Sharidin
Road
14.2
On
right onto Virginville
Road
10 1512.4 15.1
On leftAdam Farm (on left)
12
14.2 Crystal
On left at intersection
1.7 Bear right
onto
Cave Road
Turn right
onto
Windsor
Castle Road
1612.5 15.3
Farm
left)
13
14.4
Epting Farm (on left)
3 11
1.8Christman
MillerFarm
On(onright
1712.6 15.5
Miller Farm(on
(onright
left)
14and left)14.5
Adam Farm (on left)
rightTurn
Crystal
Cave
www.crystalcavepa.com
14.2 3.3
On
onto
Road
15 N
15.1
Adam Farm (on left)
17.0
leftVirginville
onto Rt 143
4 12
leftSunday
Stutzman
Farm
(onFarm
right)
On
at intersection
16
15.3
Miller
(on left)
1814.2 5.0
17.3
Farm (on left)
15.5
Miller
(on left)
5 13
Leiby
Dreibelbis
Farm
(onFarm
left,
rear)
Epting
FarmFarm
(on
left)
1914.4 5.4
17.8
(on left)17
Turn S
left onto Rt 143 N
14.5 6.0
Adam
Farm (on
left)
19.0
Covered
(on left)
14
Dreibelbis
Turn
leftBridge
on17.0
Rt
143
H
1822 (Hex17.3
Sunday Farm (on left)
15.1 6.6
Adam
Farmleft
(on
left)Old
20.6
onto
Rt
6 15
Turn
On
left,
rear Highway)
19
17.8
Leiby Farm (on left)
15.3 7.1
Miller
(on
left)Restarant
20.8
Deitsch
Eck
7 16
Farm
On
right (at corner), Dreibelbis Covered Bridge (on left)
H
Turn right
onto Rt 143 N 19.0
17
15.5 20.8
Miller Farm
(on left)
8.3 On left, Turn
right on
662leftN
20.6Rt Turn
onto Old Rt 22 (Hex Highway)
2017.0 21.0
continue
Turn left onto Rt
143 Non Rt 143, past Rt I-78
20.8
DeitschRoad
Eck Restarant (at corner),
— Pennsylvania German
8 18
8.6Sunday
KFarm
right, boulder
facing
Gift
BlueOn
Rocks–glacier
deposit.
17.3 21.8
(on
left)
Cultural Heritage Center
20.8 Family
Turn right onto Rt 143 N
Follow(on
signs
the Blue Rocks
9 19
Farm
On
17.8 9.7Leiby
left)toleft
20
21.0
On left, continue on Rt 143, past Rt I-78
610-756-6366,
10 Campground,
On
left
— Pennsylvania German
19.0 12.4
Dreibelbis
Covered
Bridge
(on
left)
H
www.bluerockscampground.com
21.8 – KBlue Rocks–glacier boulder deposit.
Cultural Heritage Center
onto
Castle
Road
20.6 12.5
Turn left
onto Turn
Old
(Hex Highway)
continue
tourRtby22right
returning
to Rt. 143Windsor
N signs to the
Follow
Blue Rocks
Family
Campground,
610-756-6366,
21
22.1
Kistler/Snyder
Farm
(on
left)
20.8
Deitsch
Eck
Restarant
(at
corner),
the 1950s,
it became popular to attribute meanings to the hex signs painted on our local barns. Many of the explanations associated with hex
11 12.6 Christman Farmwww.bluerockscampground.com
(on right Inand
left)
–
symbols are ambiguous
because they are not based in history or tradition, but rather the product of mid-20th century concepts. In fact, many of
2220.8 14.2
23.7
Ida Bond/Shane
Farm
left) Virginville
Turn right
ontoOn
Rt 143
N (on
right
onto
Mileage
to
Location
continue tour byRoad
returning
to interpretations
Rt. 143 N
the design
can be directly linked
to hex barn artMiles
painters like
Johnny
Claypoole, Johnny Ott and Jacob Zook.
left onto
Creek
Road
20
21.0 24.0
On left,Turn
continue
onPine
Rt 143,
past
Rt
I-78
22.1
Kistler/Snyder Farm
(on left)or tourist meanings of hexIn barn
the 1950s,
meanings
to the hex
signs painted
our local barns. Many of the explanations associated with hex
Popular
art include:
12 14.2 On left21at intersection
25
it became popular
25.8to attribute
Sicher
Farm,
(onon left)
—
Pennsylvania
German
2321.8 24.9
Valley Farmboulder
(on
left)
KBlueHawk
Rocks–glacier
deposit.
symbols
are
ambiguous
because
they
are
not
based
in history or tradition, but rather the product of mid-20th century concepts. In fact, many of
22
23.7
Ida Bond/Shane Farm (on left)
13 24 14.4
Epting
Farm
(on
left)
26.0
Turn
right
onto
Hawk
Road
Cultural
Heritage
CenterMountain
the
design
interpretations
can
be
directly
linked
to
hex
barn
art
painters
like
Johnny
Claypoole,
Johnny Ott and Jacob
Zook.
Follow
signs
to
the
Blue
Rocks
Family
25.4
Pitcairn Farm (on right) 24.0
Turn left onto Pine Creek Road
Popular
of hex
Campground,
610-756-6366,
14 25 14.5
Sicher Farm,
Adam
Farm24.9
(on Hawk
left)Valley Farm (on left)
or tourist meanings
26.2
barn art include:
Turn left onto New Bethel Church Road
25.8
(on left)
23
www.bluerockscampground.com
–(on left)
15 15.1
Adam
26 26.5 Wessner Farm (on right)
26.0 Turn right
onto Hawk
Mountain
RoadPitcairn Farm (on right)
24Farm
25.4
continue tour by returning
to Rt. 143
N
26.2
Turn
left
onto
New
Bethel
Church
Road
25
25.8
Sicher Farm, (on left)
1621
15.3
Miller
Farm
(on
left)
26.9
Turn
left onto Old Philly Pike
22.1
Kistler/Snyder Farm (on left)
In the 1950s, it became popular to attribute meanings to the hex signs painted on our local barns. Many of the explanations associated with hex
26.5 WessnerMiller
Farm (onFarm
right) 26.0
Turn right onto
Hawk Mountain
Road because they are not based
1722 2623.7 15.5
27 in history or 27.0
Seat
symbols
are ambiguous
tradition, but ratherLongenecker/County
the product of mid-20th century concepts.
In fact,(on
many right)
of
Ida Bond/Shane Farm (on
left) (on left)
Turn left ontothe
Newdesign
Bethelinterpretations
Church Road can be directly linked to hex barn art painters like Johnny Claypoole, Johnny Ott and Jacob Zook.
26.9
Turn left onto Old Philly Pike26.2
left
onto
Rt
143
N
Make
u-turn
and
return
to
New
Bethel
24.0 17.0
Turn left onto Turn
Pine Creek
Road
26 Seat (on
26.5
(on right)
Popular
or tourist meanings of hex barn art include:
27
27.0
Longenecker/County
right) Wessner Farm
24.9 17.3
Hawk
Farm
(on left) Farm
1823
Valley
Sunday
(on
left)
Road
and
turn
left
26.9
Turn
left
onto
Old
Philly
Pike
Make u-turn and return to New Bethel
Scallop Border
Closed Circle
6-pointed Rosette
8-pointed Star
4-pointed Star
25.4 17.8
Pitcairn
Farm Leiby
(on right)
Tranquility,
Border28 Good
Luck, Farm
the Morning (on
(the most
popular barn star
Good
Luck
1924
Church
Farm
(on left)
27.9
Lutz
left)
Road
and 27
turn left 27.0
Longenecker/County Seat (on
right)
Smooth
Sailing
Eternity,
Triangle,
Star,
6
Biblical
Days
of
in
Berks
County) Sun,
Sicher
Farm,
(on
left)left)
Make u-turn
and return
to New
Bethel
27.9
Farm
(on
Scallop
Border
Closed
Circle
6-pointed
Rosette
8-pointed Star
4-pointed
Star
25 2825.8 19.0
Lutz
Dreibelbis
Covered
Bridge
(on
left)
29
28.1
Hilbert
Farm
(on
Trinity
Creation
Fertility,right)
the Compass
4-pointed Star
Tranquility,
Good Luck, the Morning (the most popular barn star
Good Luck
Church Road and turn left
26.0 28.1
Turn right
ontoFarm
Hawk
Mountain
Road
with Petals Border
29
Hilbert
(on
right)
20.6 Turn left
onto
Old
Rt
22
(Hex
Highway)
Smooth Sailing
Eternity,
Triangle,Turn left onto Mountain
28.5
Road
Star,
6
Biblical
Days
of
in
Berks
County) Sun,
12-pointed Star
The Tulip, Fertility, Rain
28Church
27.9
26.2 28.5
Turn left
onto
Road Lutz Farm (on left)
Trinity
Creation
Fertility, the Compass
4-pointed Star
Turn
leftNew
ontoBethel
Mountain
Road
the 12 Months
26
20.8
Deitsch
Eck
Restarant
(at
corner),
30
28.9
Lutz
Farm
(on
right
and
left)
with Petals
29
28.1
Hilbert
Farm
(on
right)
Wessner
or 12 Apostles
3026.5 28.9
LutzFarm
Farm(on
(onright)
right and left)
12-pointed Star
The Tulip, Fertility, Rain
28.5 Rt
Turn143
left onto
Road
Turn
right
onto
NMountain
30.8
Barn ArtTurn
left onto Hawk Mountain Road
Despite
the ambiguity of their meanings, the geometric nature
of Hex
is no coincidence.
the 12 Months
26.9 20.8
Turn left
onto
30.8
Turn
leftOld
ontoPhilly
HawkPike
Mountain Road
16-pointed
Star
or 12 Apostles
30 continue
28.9
Lutz
rightGeometric
and
left) art
some of humanity’s31
earliest
has held a variety
of meanings, Renovations
2027 3127.0 21.0
Robertsons
OnRenovations
left,
onFarm
Rt(on143,
past
Rt isI-78
art, and31.0
Robertsons
Success, Prosperity, (on left)
Longenecker/County
Seat (on
right)
31.0
(on
left)
Despite
the
ambiguity
of
their
meanings,
the
geometric
nature
of
Hex
Barn
Art
is
no
coincidence.
30.8
Turn left onto Hawk
Mountain among
Road agrarian populations like the Pennsylvania Dutch. The geometric images
especially
Fertility
16-pointed
Star
21.8
u-turn
KBlue
boulder
deposit.
is some
34.6
Albany
left)
32
34.6
Albany and
Farm
(on left)
Make
return
toRocks–glacier
New Bethel
Border
ClosedGeometric
Circle32 art
6-pointed
8-pointed
Star
4-pointed
of Star
humanity’s
earliest
art,Rosette
andFarm
hasof held(on
a variety
of meanings,
of Scallop
hex
their symbolism
reflects
a reverence
for the
forces
Success, Prosperity,
31
31.0
Robertsons Renovations
(onsigns
left) are celestial, and
Tranquility,
Border
Good
Luck,
the Morning Dutch.
(the most
popular
barn starimages
Good Luck
ChurchDietrich
Road Follow
and
33
34.9
Farmturn
(onleft
left)signs to the Blue Rocks
especially
among
agrarian
populations
like
the
Pennsylvania
The
geometric
Fertility
Family
33
34.9
Dietrich
Farm
(on
left)
nature
andSailing
divinity. The Pennsylvania
the significance
32
34.6
Albany Farm (on left)
Smooth
Eternity, Triangle,Dutch community was sensitive
Star,to6 Biblical
Days of
in Berks County) Sun,
of hex signsofarethe
celestial,
and their
symbolism
ais reverence
the forces of
28
27.9 35.1
Lutz Farm
left)
Cross(onRtCampground,
143 to Stoney Mountain 610-756-6366,
Road
Creationreflects
Fertility,
theforCompass
Star
progression
year.
This
ofCross
cosmic
order143
and divinity.4-pointed
35.1
idea Dutch
Rt
to Stoney
Mountain Road
33
34.9
Dietrich Farm (on of
left) celestial activity and the Trinity
nature
The
Pennsylvania
community
was
sensitive
to the significance
with
Petals
29 3428.1 35.5
HilbertOntelaunee
Farm (on right)
Dairy Farm (on 35.1
left)
central
to
Pennsylvania
folk
belief,
and
profoundly
affected
the
arts,
religion,
folk
medicine,
Cross Rt 143 to Stoney Mountain Road
www.bluerockscampground.com
–
34
35.5
Ontelaunee
(onis left)
of celestial
activity
and
the Rain
progression
of the year. This Dairy
idea
of Farm
cosmic
12-pointed
Star order
The Tulip,
Fertility,
agricultural process, foodways, and many other important facets of Pennsylvania German life.
Turn left
onto Mountain
Road
3528.5 37.3
Wiesner
Farm (on 34
left)
12 Months
35.5 byOntelaunee
Dairy Farm
central35
to Pennsylvania
folk belief,
affectedFarm
the arts,the
religion,
folk medicine,
continue
tour
returning
to (on
Rt.left)143 N
37.3
and profoundly
Wiesner
(on
left)
or
12
Apostles
30
28.9 38.7
Lutz Farm
left)
Turn (on
left right
onto and
Rt 737
S
agricultural
process, foodways,
other important
of Pennsylvania
German
35
37.3
Wiesner Farm (on The
left) DiStELFink is the good luck bird
of the Pennsylvania
Germansand
and many
is a stylized
version offacets
finch.
The finch eats
thistle life.
21 3630.8 22.1
Farm
(onDespite
left)
38.7
lefttheonto
Rt 737
S
the ambiguity of their meanings, the geometric nature
of Hex Barn Art Turn
is no coincidence.
39.5
Bauscher
FarmMountain
(on left) Road
Turn left
onto Kistler/Snyder
Hawk
seed
“distelfink.”
38.7
Turn left onto Rt 737
S and uses thistledown for its nest and was called a thistle finch from which comes the Pennsylvania Dutch
16-pointed
Star
The
DiStELFink
is
the
good
luck
bird
of
the
Pennsylvania
Germans
and
is
a
stylized
version
Geometric
art
is
some
of
humanity’s
earliest
art,
and
has
held
a
variety
of
meanings,
single distelfink sign is a symbol of good
luck
and happiness.
Theheart addsBauscher
a measure of love Farm
and the
tulips,
faith.
Theof the finch. The finch eats thistle
2231
TourRenovations
IdaatBond/Shane
FarmFarm
(on
left)
36
39.5
(on
left)
41.1
END
Rt I-78
Success,
Prosperity,
31.0 23.7
Robertsons
(on left) 39.5
36
Bauscher
(onThis
left)
seed like
and
uses
thistledown
itsDutch.
nest
and
called aand
thistle
finch itfrom
comes
the Pennsylvania Dutch “distelfink.”
especially
among
thepopularized
Pennsylvania
The
images
distlefink
is neveragrarian
found onpopulations
historic barns.
It was
asfor
a “hex
sign”
in was
thegeometric
1950s
formerly
waswhich
found
on historic
Fertility
46.1
Alternate
ending
at
Rt
222
This single
sign is41.1
a symbol
luck
and happiness.
a measure of love and the tulips, faith. The
34.6 24.0
Albany
left) left onto
32
Farm (on
Turn
distelfink
ofongood
Tour
ENDofThe
atheart
Rtadds
I-78
41.1 Pine
TourCreek
END at Rt Road
I-78
folk art,
suchare
as baptismal
redware,
and toleware,
buta never
barns.for
of hex
signs
celestial,certificates,
and their
symbolism
reflects
reverence
the forces
distlefink
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found
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historic
barns.
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popularized
as
a
“hex
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in
the
1950s
and
formerly it was found on historic
47.0
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of celestial activity and the progression of the year. This idea of cosmic order is
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Get lost in history...
Get lost in history...
Interpreting Hex barn art...
Interpreting Hex barn art...
Interpreting Hex barn art...
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47.0 Alternate ending at Main Street,
Ontelaunee Dairy Farm (on left)
central to Pennsylvania folk belief, and profoundly
affected the arts, religion,
folk medicine,
Kutztown
agricultural process, foodways, and many other important facets of Pennsylvania German life.
Wiesner Farm (on left)
Turn left onto Rt 737 S
The DiStELFink is the good luck bird of the Pennsylvania Germans and is a stylized version of the finch. The finch eats thistle
Bauscher Farm (on left)
seed and uses thistledown for its nest and was called a thistle finch from which comes the Pennsylvania Dutch “distelfink.”
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Alternate ending at Main Street, Kutztown
To help plan a memorable getaway, call or visit the Greater Reading Visitors Center at
To help plan a memorable getaway, call or visit the Greater Reading Visitors Center at