Few design choices make a statement like barn tin ceiling tiles from Dakota Tin, combining strength, story, and style. They are a piece of American history. Each tile is made from reclaimed barn panels, carrying with it decades of character, craftsmanship, and a story worth telling.
But where did these rugged panels come from before they were repurposed into ceiling tiles and wainscoting? Many can be traced back to the once-mighty Granite City Steel plant in Illinois.
A Look Back at Granite City Steel
Granite City Steel has long been recognized as a major force in American steelmaking. It was founded by Frederick and William Niedringhaus, two German immigrants with entrepreneurial drive. The company began in the 1860s with a tinware business in St. Louis. By the 1870s, they had introduced a distinctive mottled metal finish known as “graniteware,” which became a household staple.
Frederick briefly stepped into politics, serving as a Missouri Congressman from 1889 to 1891, before returning to the family’s rapidly growing steel business. The brothers soon expanded across the Mississippi River into Granite City, Illinois, officially establishing Granite City Steel in 1895.
Through the industrial revolution, the city flourished, powered in large part by the steel plant. At its peak in the early 1900s, Granite City Steel employed over 2,000 workers and produced tens of thousands of tons of steel products every year. The facility covered 15 acres, and its massive furnaces and mills turned out everything from sheet metal to tin plate. By the mid-20th century, it had become one of the region’s industrial powerhouses.
Over time, Granite City Steel became part of U.S. Steel. Although the company has weathered many changes, the plant still operates today with the capacity to produce hundreds of thousands of tons each year.
The STRONGBARN Legacy
One of Granite City Steel’s most recognizable trademarks was STRONGBARN, first registered in 1948. Under this brand, the company produced corrugated steel roofing and siding that became the backbone of barns, sheds, and agricultural buildings across the Midwest. Although the trademark eventually expired in 1992, the steel itself lived on, protecting countless structures for decades.
Today, much of that durable corrugated metal finds new life through Dakota Tin. By reclaiming and upcycling this authentic barn tin, we are able to offer ceiling tiles and wainscoting that carry forward the strength and heritage of American steelmaking while adding one-of-a-kind rustic charm to modern spaces.
Bring History Into Your Home
When you install barn tin ceiling tiles or wainscoting from Dakota Tin, you are not just decorating. You are preserving a piece of history. Each panel reflects the endurance of Granite City Steel and the generations of craftsmen and farmers who built with it.
Ready to give your space that authentic reclaimed look? Browse our full selection of barn tin products today: https://www.dakotatin.com/collections/dakota-tin.
