Ever Notice Stars on the Side of Barns in Iowa? Here’s What They Mean…

I love taking aimless rides with the family.  Even though I'm 99% sure we'll never get lost, it adds a certain level of mystery when we flip a coin in the middle of the country road to see which way to go.  We almost never cross county lines, but it feels like we are super far from home.

Especially when you're taking a tour down a rural route, you see a few things you wouldn't normally see on your city commute.

Have You Noticed Stars on the Sides of Barns?

If you travel down your nearest dirt road, you may notice a certain symbol on the side of the barns.  It could be painted, or shaped from metal...the five-pointed star is a common decoration you'll see.  These are otherwise known as:

• Barn star
• Primitive star
• Pennsylvania star

Are Barn Stars the Same as Stars on Brick Buildings?

No, actually the stars that you see on brick buildings are known as star bolts. When walls start to bow outward, they help reinforce the structure.  Think of them as giant decorative nuts attached to bolts that are holding the walls of a building up.

What Do Stars on Barns Mean?

Here's what we found out from WideOpenCountry.com,

Metal stars are common in farming settlements with German heritage and they're believed to bring good luck. Like the superstition of hanging a horseshoe on a barn, the history of the barn star began as an attempt to ward off evil. WideOpenCountry.com

Just a sign of good luck.  Doesn't hurt that they look super cool either.