History of Barn Stars
On many older American barns, particularly German farms, one could see a large decoration in the shape of a star mounted on the face of the barn.
These were called barn stars. Sometimes they were just aesthetic, but many times they represented the trademark of a specific barn builder. Although they go back to at least the 1820s in Pennsylvania, they were most popular after the American Civil War.
In modern times, barn stars have come to be known as signs of good fortune and luck.