Saving the past for tomorrow's future!
The Thumb Octagon Barn Agricultural Museum is located in Tuscola County approximately 1 mile east of the Village of Gagetown along Bay City Forestville Road, 1 mile north on Richie Road, just south of the Huron County border. What exists on this site today is the result of a vision, a team effort, generous contributions and many hours of planning, organization, and plain hard work. The vision began in the minds of a few neighbors who did not want to see such an awesome structure and piece of agricultural history be destroyed in the name of “convenience” or “progress”. And so began the Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn organization — a rescue effort to save the barn from demolition, then restore the barn, then restore the house and surrounding grounds.
VISION STATEMENT: Our vision is to develop the Thumb Octagon Barn complex for the community as an agricultural museum and educational center open to individuals, families and student groups to educate and stimulate awareness of our agricultural heritage.
MISSION STATEMENT: Our mission is to maintain a volunteer group of Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn involved in the restoration and preservation of the barn complex as an educational tool preserving our rural and agricultural history for the benefit of our visitors. Fund-raising efforts have grown into annual events known around the state. The vision to preserve has grown into a plan to own and operate an historical agricultural site for the education, recreation and entertainment of the community and visitors. Currently the Friends of the Thumb Octagon Barn has nearly 800 members — many from all over the State of Michigan and around the country. Members may receive the Barn Newsletter and volunteer their time to help out if they are able. There are always work activities, festivals, gatherings and restoration upkeep that bring members together in the community. Help is always needed and appreciated. Upkeep is ongoing...
VALUES STATEMENT: As stewards of the Octagon Barn, we embrace the diversity within our organization and celebrate our many individual talents. We are committed to our visitors and have a passion for the Octagon Barn complex as an educational tool to share with the community our rural heritage. We take on big challenges, and pride ourselves on seeing them completed. We have a responsibility to hold ourselves accountable to the legacy of the Octagon Barn as it continues to grow in the future.
2017 Open House Weekend Saturday & Sunday, July 29-30
Please stop by on Saturday July 29th or Sunday July 30th for the annual open house weekend. This is the time to bring your friends and relatives for a free tour of the site. Louie and Linda Wehrman will be in the grain elevator telling the story of wheat production…
2018 School Tours May 9-11
Mission Statement: Today…Everyday…Educating…Improving…Working…To Save History For Tomorrow’s Future! 2018 School Tours educational field trip for students from pre-school through 8th grade – will be held on Wednesday, May 9th, Thursday, May 10th, and Friday, May 11th at Thumb Octagon Barn, Gagetown. Theme for 2018 is ‘The Thumb Of Michigan: Naturally…
Music in the Barn July 14-16, 2017
2017 School Tours – Photos & News
Here’s a quick wrap up of this years 2017 School Tours at the Thumb Octagon Barn: 1,301 Students, 400 Chaperones, 185+ Volunteers! A special thanks goes out to the MSU Extension Program and the DEQ for helping us out with the programming. We will be announcing the theme for…