The two level, bank barn is also known as the Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania German, Sweitzer, Swiss, Overshot, and tight barn. The bank barn is the most comon barn that is found in all of the areas settled by Germans. This barn got its name because it was usually built into a bank or hillside to provide a ramp for wagons. If the barn was not constructed on a bank a man-made ramp was made out of stone and ground going to the second level from the rear of the barn. From the back of the barn it appears to be one story. The top level usually extends six or more feet beyond the ground level because of the forebay. The walls of the barn are constructed of logs, frame, stone, brick or a combination of materials.
These two pictures show the bank barn disign that charactorized the folk culture of the Pennsylvania Germans.
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