Garden of Ohio: Archbold Quilt Barn Tour

---

In 1846, Henry Howe visited the Great Black Swamp in northwest Ohio and declared that in time, it would become “the garden of Ohio.” Flattened by the repeated advance and retreat of glaciers, the soil here offers up a bounty of grain, fruit, and forage. To commemorate the 2015 bicentennial of Archbold, the Black Swamp Arts Council and Sauder Village Living History Farm partnered to create a quilt barn trail that would commemorate farming and quilting. The short trail leads to ten barns, most of which feature quilt patterns that celebrate farming heritage. Many of the quilt barns feature star patterns, resonant of the starry skies visible here after dark. The produced by Kelli Trinsokey, the audio features barn owners sharing family history, and architectural historians who share details about the barns you’ll be seeing. Follow the turn-by-turn directions that are included in the narrative. Please remember that these barns are located on working farms, so please respect private property and be aware of other traffic if you stop to take pictures of the barns.

Notes for Travelers: This trail of quilt barns offers views of some of the prettiest farms and barns in the state. The roads here are easy to navigate, laid out in a smooth rectangular grid. This short tour will allow plenty of time to visit Sauder Village after viewing the quilt barns and will illuminate the sights along the trail. The Sauder Village museum illustrates the history of the region, barn architecture, and the agriculture products produced in this corner of the state. Sauder Village also offers a restaurant, bakery, and hotel, making it easy to extend your stay.

Begin each track at the location indicated. Important sites from the tour are marked on the map and under each track heading. Sites that are highlighted in blue link to additional information.