Near Piqua in Miami County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Johnston Barn

At the Piqua Historical Area

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 3, 2016

1. Johnston Barn Marker

Inscription. With the intention of becoming a "gentleman farmer," John Johnston began development of his Upper Piqua farm in 1808 with a two-story log cabin and this double pen log barn. The surrounding outer sheds were built to protect the log pens from the weather. One of the oldest structures of its kind in Ohio, the barn is built around two hand-hewn log pens, each sixty-foot square. The barn served the family's farming activities and was a storage facility for trade goods Johnston needed when the farm was the Piqua Indian Agency, 1811-1829.

Erected 2008 by Piqua Historical Area Friends Council, The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 29- 55.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1808.

Location. 40° 10.727′ N, 84° 15.483′ W. Marker is near Piqua, Ohio, in Miami County. It is on Hardin Road (County Road 110), on the right when traveling north. Marker is in the Piqua Historical Area, an Ohio History Connection site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 9845 Hardin Rd, Piqua OH 45356, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Ohio’s Dayton Metro,

in the Miami Valley,

and in the Till Plains.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Cider House (within shouting distance of this marker); The Courtyard (within shouting distance of this marker); The Fruit Kiln (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Site of Smokehouse (about 300 feet away); Prehistoric Indian Mound (about 400 feet away); Indian Agency House (approx. ¼ mile away); Pickawillany (approx. ¼ mile away); In Commemoration of the 94th & 110th Reg’s. O.V.I. (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Piqua.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Fort Pickawillany (was approx. ¼ mile away but has been confirmed missing).

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 3, 2016

2. Johnston Barn Marker

Full view of marker, with the barn

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 3, 2016

3. Johnston Barn Marker

Marker at a distance, with just the corner of the Johnston House visible at the left

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 3, 2016

4. Johnston Barn Marker

East side of the barn, with log structure clearly visible

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 3, 2016

5. Johnston Barn Marker

North, main doorway of barn. Frame structure surrounds older log walls.

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, June 3, 2016

6. Johnston Barn Marker

"Hex" sign on west side of barn

Credits. This page was last revised on June 11, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 3, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 977 times since then and 45 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on June 3, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 5. submitted on June 4, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 6. submitted on June 3, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.