The JF Glidden Homestead & Historical Center has been selected as the featured Illinois story on the national radio show and podcast “Own the Road with Kelli and Bob” as part of its special limited series, The USA250 Tour, commemorating America’s 250th anniversary.

In December, renowned journalists Kelli and Bob Phillips visited the historic site in DeKalb, touring the Glidden home and barn while interviewing Executive Director Jessi Haish LaRue about the groundbreaking invention that changed the American landscape: “The Winner” barbed wire.

The USA250 Tour is highlighting only one story of profound national significance from each state, and for Illinois, the producers selected the Glidden Homestead for its powerful barbed wire story — a tremendous honor recognizing the site’s lasting national and global impact.

Barbed wire, first successfully patented by Joseph Glidden in 1874, played a pivotal role in shaping the American West. It transformed agriculture, enabled efficient land management, reduced open-range conflicts, and accelerated settlement and economic development across the frontier. Often called “the invention that tamed the West,” barbed wire helped define property boundaries, modernize farming, and permanently alter the physical and social landscape of the United States. Its influence extended far beyond agriculture.

“This recognition is an honor for our organization and our community,” said Executive Director Jessi Haish LaRue. “To have Illinois’ story represented through the invention of ‘The Winner’ barbed wire speaks to the profound national significance of what happened right here in DeKalb. We are proud to share how this innovation shaped not only America’s growth, but the world.”

Once completed, all 50 featured USA250 stories will be distributed at no cost to American history teachers nationwide for classroom use, ensuring that students across the country learn about the diverse innovations and stories that collectively shaped the nation.

The episode featuring the Glidden Homestead can be viewed on the show’s YouTube page, “Own the Road with Kelli and Bob” and heard on the Audacy podcast app.

Kelli and Bob Phillips, two acclaimed journalists known for exploring America’s backroads, are on a perpetual road trip uncovering the untold stories of ordinary people and extraordinary places. Through the USA250 Tour, they are bringing these stories to a national audience in celebration of America’s semiquincentennial.

The J.F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center, 921 W. Lincoln Highway in DeKalb, is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historic Glidden home and barn, both listed on the National Register of Historic Places. For more information, call 815-756-7904, visit www.gliddenhomestead.org, or email jessi@gliddenhomestead.org.