A trip through Northern Berks County...the land of the “Fancy” Pennsylvania Dutch...will take you through fertile countryside where hundred year old German bank barns are decorated with a unique Folk Art design, referred to as hex signs. Also called Barn Art, the Barn Art area includes all of Berks and Lehigh, and portions of seven adjacent counties.

The heaviest concentration of barns are found in Berks and Lehigh Counties in the area of Old Route 22—The Hex Tour Highway. Enjoy!
Click Here For A Map of The Hex Tour

Why Hex Signs?
The shaping of the Hex Highway landscape shows a strong influence of the German and Swiss immigrants to this region during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Collectively known as the “Pennsylvania Dutch”, these people developed a rich folk art tradition of colorful quilts, needlework, decorative arts and paint decorated furniture unique to “Dutch Country.” Although the tradition of painting “hex signs: on barns did not begin until the mid0nineteenth century, the geometric patterns and symbolism of barn decorations traces its roots to artistry and symbolism of medieval Europe.

The decoration of barns is a very late development in Pennsylvania German folk art. Prior to the 1830’s, the high cost of paint meant that most barns were left unpainted. As paint became affordable, the Pennsylvania Germans began to decorate their barns much like they decorated items in their home. Barn decorating reached its peak in the early twentieth century, at which time there were many artists who specialized in barn decorating. Drawing from a large repertoire of folk designs, barn painters combined many elements in their decorations.

The geometric patterns of quilts can easily be seen in the patterns of many hex signs. Hearts and tulips seen on barns are commonly found on elaborately lettered and decorated birth, baptism and marriage certificate known as Fraktur.

A later innovation by some painters is the depiction of prize livestock, an outward expression of the pride and skill of the farmer.
Wallace Nutting has been credited with creating the term “hex” sign and its association with superstitions when he referred to the barn signs as “hexafoos” in his book Pennsylvania, the Beautiful.

The reason for hex signs is best illustrated by the story of the old Pennsylvania German Farmer, who, when asked why he decorated his barn, replied, “Oh, just for nice, I guess.”