National and State Registers of Historic Places
Chrystal, Herman, Barn
4 miles southwest of Wathena
Wathena (Doniphan County)
Listed in National Register
May 7, 1987
Architect: unknown
Category: storage
Thematic Nomination: Byre and Bluff Barns of Doniphan County
The Chrystal (Herman) Barn, built in 1890, is located on the Franklin F. Kienhoff Farm near Wathena. The barn is an example of a three-bay, center entrance, board-and-batten structure with a full byre and limestone foundation. This barn was nominated as one of the 18 Byre and Bluff barns of Doniphan County. A common feature of these barns is that at least one side of the foundation is embedded in an earthen bank or bluff. These barns are an example of vernacular architecture built to take advantage of the hilly topography and are significant for their relative rarity and architecture.
