Visit the sites of DeKalb’s barbed wire story on a tour bus as DeKalb celebrates the 150th anniversary of Joseph F. Glidden’s “The Winner” barbed wire patent during Barb City’s Barbed Wire Weekend.

The “Barbed Wire Barons Bus Tour” will begin at 10 am on Friday, Sept. 27 in DeKalb as the kick-off to Barbed Wire Weekend events. The tour will include buildings and locations related to the barbed wire story in DeKalb, including the “barbed wire barons” Joseph F. Glidden, Jacob Haish and Isaac Ellwood. Highlights include a special opportunity to tour the interior of two former barbed wire factory sites: today’s Industrial Artifacts and Sonoco Alloyd.

Tickets are $74 per person, and a commemorative booklet is included. This bus tour has been curated by historian Stephen J. Bigolin and Haish family descendant Jeff J. Marshall. To purchase tickets, visit BarbedWireWeekend.com or contact the Glidden Homestead at 815-756-7904. Limited tickets are available.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of Glidden’s “The Winner” patent, the most widely-used barbed wire in the world, which also earned Glidden the title “The Father of Barbed Wire.” During September 28-29, the Glidden Homestead will celebrate by hosting a barbed wire exposition show “Barb City’s Barbed Wire Weekend” in coordination with the Antique Barbed Wire Society at NIU’s Altgeld Hall, and other community-wide events. Visit www.barbedwireweekend.com to learn more.

All proceeds from the bus tour and Barbed Wire Weekend events support operations and preservation of the historic J.F. Glidden Homestead & Historical Center, a nonprofit museum dedicated to sharing the history of Glidden and DeKalb’s barbed wire story. For more information contact Jessi Haish LaRue, Glidden Homestead & Historical Center, at jessi@gliddenhomestead.org or 815-756-7904.