We love finding unique art and roadside attractions as we travel around Michigan, and on a recent visit to the Thumb region we had the chance to visit the 53North Barn Art Project barns near Port Austin. Each of the three barns we visited was unique, and it was neat to see how they still fit the rural landscape here while having an artistic twist. Today we will share some pictures of the barns, provide a map so you can visit them yourself, and look at what 53North was hoping to do with this project.

The 53North Barn Art Project started more than a decade ago and sought to “reimagine the iconic American barn in a creative way.” These barns immediately catch the eye of those traveling the rural roads in Huron County and make for great photo opportunities. Each of the barns is located on private property, but we found each at least had somewhere to park for a few quick photos. Signs from 53North at each site describe the barn, the artist, and note that each barn is located on private property and trespassing is discouraged.

The first barn we visited was Art in the Public Realm: Rural Edition, located near the intersection of M-53/VanDyke Rd. and Stoddard Rd. There is a mural at each end of the barn, with one side featuring “Walden” (a pigeon and the Hygienic Dress League logo) and the other side featuring a unique take on the famous painting American Gothic. Hygienic Dress League is the husband and wife team of Steve and Dorota Coy and their gas-mask wearing farmer and wife are meant to “explore the relationship between large corporations, food, consumerism, and profit.” This was the first barn art completed for this project.

We next headed to the most unique barn on our tour. Celestial Ship of the North (Emergency Ark) by Scott Hocking can be found on Fehner Rd. just east of Oak Beach Rd. and features a “Barnboat” made out of the pieces of the 1890s barn that once stood at this site. This barn was added to the project in 2015 and took three months to complete.

The final barn we visited was Secret Sky, located on Pinnebog Rd. Artist Catie Newell cut a slice out of this barn to let the sky enter it for some amazing views. “By day, the visitor sees the patterning and intricacy of the barn walls, juxtaposed with the massive cut that lets the daylight pour through. At night the light flows from within (for several hours beginning at dusk), acting as a large-scale lantern in the landscape and casting long shadows across its surrounds, giving light and dark back to the sky.”

If you find yourself heading to the Port Austin or Caseville area this year, consider driving some backroads and checking out the 53North Barn Art Project. The map below highlights the three sites we visited, a fourth barn on Sand Rd. had a mural added in 2024 but was located behind a private residence with limited views from the road.