U.S. #5551
2021 36¢ Barns – Western Barn in Winter
Issue Date: January 24, 2021
First Day City: Barnesville, GA
Type of Stamp: Definitive
Printed by: Banknote Corporation of America
Printing Method: Offset
Format: Coil of 100
Self-Adhesive
Quantity Printed: 400,000,000
Historically, Western barns were practical designs used to store feed, animals, and farm equipment. These barns were an important part of a farmer's livelihood and he depended on their durability.
Interestingly, modern-day architecture has turned Western barns into somewhat of a fad. People build them to be homes, workshops, art studios, and more. Though there are still plenty of barns built in the Western style, they are quite different from the simple designs of old.
Some of the most elaborate and decadent Western barns today are built as equestrian centers. That is, to house and show horses. Some of these facilities can hold hundreds of horses at a time and include massive indoor riding arenas. Many of these barns are now heated, to allow for comfort of horse and rider no matter what the season. Luxurious tack rooms house saddles and other riding equipment, premium feed rooms stock grain and top-of-the-line supplements, and a separate building keeps hay dry throughout the year. Some of these massive facilities even have grand chandeliers in their entryways!
Barn designs have certainly come a long way over the years. Still, whether simple or grand, there is something about visiting a barn that allows all your everyday worries to just melt away.