Some Ankeny Historical Society members may ask, "Why do we have a "barn style" museum building? I hope this article answers the question. For over 300 years, from 1650-1950, the American all-purpose barn, usually the most prominent building on a farm, was the center of hard work focused on making a livelihood from raising crops and animals. So important was the barn that it was often built before the house. Sometimes the family lived in the barn until the house was built.