Dammon Round Barn

Dammon Round Barn is a historic round barn located just southeast of Red Wing, Minnesota, adjacent to U.S. Route 61. Constructed in 1914 during a period of agricultural expansion in Goodhue County, the building reflects an early twentieth-century effort to adapt farm architecture to the practical needs of livestock and feed storage. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is recognized as one of Minnesota's surviving round barns. The structure is approximately 60 feet in diameter and 60 feet high. Its foundation is made from limestone gathered from the Mississippi River area. The circular plan was organized around a central silo, allowing stored silage to be positioned close to the cattle and making feeding and cleaning more efficient. The design also helped insulate silage. At the time, dairy farms in Goodhue County commonly kept herds of about 25 cows, and specialized barns were becoming increasingly common. Although round barns offered operational advantages, they were difficult and expensive to construct compared with conventional rectangular barns. As a result, the form never became widespread. The Dammon barn's survival gives it significance as both a local agricultural landmark and an example of a distinctive, relatively rare building type. The farm was later associated with honey production under beekeeping owners, showing that the property continued to support agricultural activity after its original dairy-oriented use. The property was purchased by Robin and Elaine Kleffman in 2000. During their ownership, the barn underwent substantial restoration, including straightening the walls, replacing the original upper-floor support pillars, and leveling and reinstalling the floor of the upper level. These interventions helped preserve the building while adapting it for continued public use. In 2017, Kirk and Wendy Stensrud purchased the historic property. It subsequently developed into a bed-and-breakfast and event destination, with the approximately 8,000-square-foot barn serving as a Minnesota wedding venue. The former hayloft on the second floor is used as a dance floor for weddings and other events, generally during the May-through-October season. The site therefore combines heritage preservation, lodging, hospitality, and event services rather than functioning as a conventional consumer brand.

Dammon Round Barn was built in 1914 near Red Wing in Goodhue County, Minnesota, at a time when local agriculture was expanding and farmers were investing in more specialized buildings. The barn was designed as a circular structure around a silo. This arrangement placed feed near the livestock, supported efficient feeding and cleaning, and helped insulate stored silage. The building measures about 60 feet across and rises approximately 60 feet high, with a foundation constructed from Mississippi River limestone. Round barns were viewed as efficient but were technically challenging to build. Their curved walls, specialized framing, and integrated silo arrangement required more complex construction than the rectangular barns that became more common. Consequently, relatively few round barns were built, and still fewer survived. The Dammon barn is now recognized as an important example of this agricultural building tradition and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The property remained connected to agricultural use after its original construction. At a later stage, owners who kept bees used the farm for honey production. This agricultural continuity added another chapter to the building's history before the site was adapted for heritage tourism and events. Robin and Elaine Kleffman purchased the farm in 2000 and carried out major restoration work. The project included straightening the barn's walls, replacing the original pillars supporting the upper floor, and leveling and installing a new floor on the top level. The work stabilized the structure and made it suitable for renewed public use while retaining its defining round form. Kirk and Wendy Stensrud acquired the historic barn and farm in 2017. Under their ownership, the property became a bed-and-breakfast and event center, with a particular emphasis on weddings. The approximately 8,000-square-foot facility is marketed as a Minnesota wedding venue. The restored second-floor hayloft functions as a dance floor, and weddings are held there during the main season from May through October. The barn's present identity is therefore built around adaptive reuse. It is not a manufactured-goods brand but a named historic property whose value comes from architectural rarity, preservation, rural setting, lodging, and event hospitality. Accounts of Minnesota's surviving round barns have identified only a limited number remaining in the state, reinforcing the Dammon barn's role as a tangible record of regional agricultural history.

• 2017

  Stensrud ownership

  [1]Dammon Round Barnen.wikipedia.org

  Kirk and Wendy Stensrud purchased the property and continued its development as a hospitality and events destination.

• 2000

  Kleffman ownership and restoration

  [1]Dammon Round Barnen.wikipedia.org

  Robin and Elaine Kleffman purchased the farm and undertook extensive work to straighten the walls, replace upper-floor supports, and rebuild and level the top-floor surface.

• 1914

  Construction of the round barn

  [1]Dammon Round Barnen.wikipedia.org

  The Dammon Round Barn was built southeast of Red Wing, Minnesota, with a circular plan centered on a silo and a limestone foundation.

• Adaptation as a wedding and bed-and-breakfast venue

  [1]Dammon Round Barnen.wikipedia.org

  The restored barn became part of a bed-and-breakfast and event center, with the upper hayloft used as a dance floor for seasonal weddings.

A preserved agricultural landmark repositioned as a heritage-focused lodging and wedding venue. Its appeal rests on the rarity and authenticity of the 1914 round-barn structure, combined with a restored event interior and a rural southeastern Minnesota setting.

• Hospitality and events · 2017

  Wedding and event venue

  The restored round barn is used for weddings and other private events. Its upper hayloft serves as a dance floor, giving celebrations a distinctive historic agricultural setting. Events are primarily held during the May-through-October season.

• Accommodation

  Bed-and-breakfast lodging

  The farm operates as part of a bed-and-breakfast property associated with the historic barn and its event facilities. The lodging offering extends the site beyond day-use heritage visitation and supports its role as a destination venue.

• 2017

  Conversion into a heritage hospitality venueStrategy

  Background

  Following restoration, the property was positioned for continued use beyond agricultural production.

  Action taken

  Kirk and Wendy Stensrud purchased the farm and developed the barn as part of a bed-and-breakfast and wedding event center.

  Aftermath

  The barn became a seasonal wedding venue, with the second-floor hayloft used as a dance floor and the site promoted as a Minnesota destination for weddings.

  Source

• 2000

  Historic restoration and adaptive preservationStrategy

  Background

  After purchasing the farm, Robin and Elaine Kleffman faced the need to preserve and stabilize an aging round barn while retaining its historic character.

  Action taken

  They straightened the walls, replaced original upper-floor support pillars, and leveled and installed a new floor on the top level.

  Aftermath

  The work helped make the barn one of Minnesota's better-preserved surviving round barns and enabled later public and event use.

  Source

1. 1Dammon Round Barnen.wikipedia.org