Johns Hopkins University: Campus Tour

Homewood Campus Tour

The Merrick Barn

The Merrick Barn was built by Charles Carroll in the early 19th century. Originally intended for dairy cattle, the structure was converted into a student center when the University moved to Homewood. The ground floor contained three lunch rooms and a barbershop, the second floor housed the offices of the YMCA and the News-Letter (published by the students of Johns Hopkins since 1897), and the loft was used by the Dramatic Club, which renamed itself the "Barnstormers."

In the late 1940s, the Barn was occupied by the Department of Writing, Speech, and Drama, and in 1950 Barnstormer President and future actor John Astin, ’52 rehearsed his first full-length play on its stage. Years later, when Drama & Speech courses were dropped, the Barn housed Theatre Hopkins, a local community theater. In 1983, the Barn was formally named the Merrick Barn, in honor of Robert G. Merrick, donor of the funds which made possible the restoration of both the Barn and the Homewood Museum. In 2004, the Merrick Barn became the home of the new JHU Theatre Arts & Studies Program, founded and directed by John Astin. The Barn now provides classrooms, a scene shop and a performance stage.

P R E V I O U S
T O U R S T O P

R E T U R N T O
H O M E W O O D M A P

N E X T
T O U R S T O P