The barn was built around 1850, restored in 2013, and, a year later, was awarded the 2014 Barn of the Year in Kent County by the Michigan Barn Preservation Network. Originally, there were three barns on the Tower farm: the large one we have today and two smaller structures. One of the smaller barns has survived while the other has been lost. The barns housed stagecoaches and contained stables for horses and cattle. They also served as the location for various workshops. These workshops included a wagon shop, a cobbler, and a blacksmith. The barn suffered damage after a series of heavy snows in 2024. Since then, we have installed a cable system that should help prevent any additional damage and allow us to continue restorative upkeep.
