It is architecturally important as an early Richardsonian Romanesque building in Dubuque and as a salient work of Chicago architect Willoughby James Edbrooke.

Its design is said to be "representative of Edbrooke's smooth exterior wall interpretation of the Richardsonian Romanesque style."

The theater has been preserved with great historic integrity and, in 2002, was being restored for continuing use in live stage entertainment.

The Grand Opera House, Inc. was established by William Lester Bradley, Sr. and five other people in 1890 to operate this and other theaters in Dubuque.

At the time of its construction, the Grand Opera House was the largest theater to be built in Dubuque.

Henry Fonda, Ethel Barrymore, George Cohan, Sarah Bernhardt, and Lillian Russell were among the more famous people to have performed at the Grand.

By the closing years of the 20th century, the Barn Community Theater had purchased the vacant and much-deteriorated Grand Opera House.

This included the restoration of the original facade was accomplished by removing the marquee and metal siding that was placed over it in the 1960s.