Jensen, Chris, Round Barn
Why it's listed
Near Lena in Stephenson County, Illinois, a 60-foot-diameter round barn sits on a poured concrete foundation. Its main entrance, on the northeast, leads to a rectangular opening in the mow floor for hay access, while animals enter on the southeast. The barn is covered in drop siding that has been overlaid with sheet metal, and a conical roof is topped by a tall, thin cupola. Wind has pushed the cupola askew and warped the roof, but the original design remains intact. The barn matters because of its floor plan. Most round barns used wedge-shaped stalls arranged around a central point, a layout promoters said made feeding easier. Here, stalls run in linear rows at right angles to two large loft joists across the center, suggesting the original owner did not accept that claim. The owner and construction date are unknown, though the roof and cupola resemble the nearby Leek barn, built in the early twentieth century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the barn is significant because its floor plan is unusual among round barns. Instead of wedge-shaped stalls arranged around the center, it has stalls set in parallel rows at right angles to two large loft joists. This shows an original owner who rejected a standard claimed advantage of round barns. The reviewer accepted it under criteria A and C, though with noted doubts about the documentation.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 84001150, listed February 23, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 11723 W. Galena Rd., Lena |
|---|---|
| County | Stephenson County |
| Listed | February 23, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001150 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Original design is intact; the roof is warped where wind pushed the cupola askew, and the siding has been covered with sheet metal. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 42.39183, -89.83503 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 84001150.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5107010
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.