Posted by admin | Posted in Log Cabin Tips & Ideas | Posted on 13-07-2010
Tags: architecture, blog, design, environment, green, log cabin interiors, luxury log cabin interiors, modern log cabin interiors, pictures of log cabin interiors, small log cabin interiors
The History of Log Cabins
When you think of log cabins, you no doubt think of them as rustic, and identify them with rural America, but actually they began in Europe and Scandinavia. Records show that the first one was built in 3500BC in Northern Europe. When the Europeans settled in this country, they already had a long history of using logs for houses. Settlers first built log cabins in 1638. They stacked tree trunks on top of each other, and made corners that interlocked by putting notches in the ends. The style of the notches had to do with the settlers' ethnic background. Some logs were also nailed together. Notching or nailing provided a strong base, and the settlers filled the cracks between the logs with moss, mud, or other soft substances, called "chinking".
In the coldest part of the country, keeping houses warm was of prime importance, and it was found that the solid wood had an insulating quality, lacking in timber frame construction covered with shingles or animal skins. In future years, the joints were improved to make them more weather-tight, but round logs were still used. A Log Cabin became very popular as pioneers settled in the north and in Canada, due to the inclement weather.
Where the cabin was to be located was important. Sunlight had to be available, and there had to be proper drainage. The early pioneers had their choice of the best logs from straight trees with old growth, and few limbs. This meant the logs didn't have to be hewn to fit together properly. They normally chose logs that were the length of one wall. The further away the sources of the timber, the smaller the cabin. Rocks were used to support thresholds and along the sill and the corners. Rocks were also used as foundations to keep the cabins out of wet ground, and also allow a place for storage. Bark was often used for roofs, and common construction was a purlin roof, which was logs that were notched into wall logs.
In 1787 the Pittsburgh Academy started as a log cabin. According to Pittsburgh historian Agnes Lynch Starrett, there is "plenty of evidence that classes were held in a log building, even before the charter was granted."
Not many 18th century log cabins are still in existence, but they were not built for permanent residency. When settlers built larger homes, the cabins were relegated to serve as outbuildings, or even chicken coops or dog houses. During the depression, the Civilian Conservation Corps built log cabins in the west for the Forest Service and the National Park Service. In 1930 the largest cabin in the world was constructed in Montebello, Quebec, Canada and became the Chateau Montebello Hotel.
In the 20th century, cabins had 2x4 rafters covered with sheeting and cedar shingles. In rural locations due to the lack of milled lumber, purlin roofs were covered with long shingles which had been split by hand. In the Midwest and parts of Canada log cabins were covered with clapboards, and cabins in the nineteenth century had interior plaster. In Illinois the Illinois Historical Society operates an 86 acre historical site which contains an accurate reproduction of Abraham Lincoln's two-room log cabin. It was built in 1935 on the original site of Lincoln's cabin as a Civilian Conservation Corps project.
Modern European log cabins are often constructed in gardens to be used as a summer home, an office, or an added room. In this country today, kits can be purchased for construction of a fancy log cabin, and the manufacturers of these kits consume the majority of the logs in the American west.<!--UdmComment--><!--/UdmComment--><!--[CDATA[ function google_ad_request_done(google_ads) { var s = ''; var i; if(typeof ea_gata == 'function') { ea_gata(3, google_ads.length, 10, 19); } if(google_ads.length == 0) { GA_googleFillSlot("EA-AdSenseALT160"); ea_alternate_gad_displayed = 1; return; } s += 'Ads by Google</a></div>'; for(i = 0; i < google_ads.length; ++i) { s += '
-->
About the Author
Do you like log cabins? Wouldn't you like to spend your vacation this summer in a lovely one in Maine right on a lake? If so, go to Maine Lakeside Log Cabin
Reduced rental too!
KY Cabin Interior In Progress
 |
 NV Lovelock Nevada Log Cabin Motel 3 Views Interior Pool Roberts SC12813 $7.99 Time Remaining: 28d 13h 38m Buy It Now for only: $7.99 Buy It Now |
 Circa 1910 Log Cabin Interior Bedroom Rustic Furniture POSTCARD $14.99 Time Remaining: 7h 45m Buy It Now for only: $19.99 Buy It Now | Bid now |
 1964 BOOK BUILD LOG CABINS MODERN VACATION HOMES interiors porches fireplaces $16.80 Time Remaining: 20d 14h 10m Buy It Now for only: $16.80 Buy It Now |
 Classic Log Cabins of North America exteriors interiors architectural details $5.50 Time Remaining: 21d 7h 54m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now |
 1928 Article Log Cabin Architecture Construction Blueprints Interior Design $45.95 Time Remaining: 29d 5h 56m Buy It Now for only: $45.95 Buy It Now |
 1915 San Francisco Postcard Log Cabin Saloon Market Street Interior w Postmark $5.60 Time Remaining: 29d 3h 53m Buy It Now for only: $5.60 Buy It Now |
 1930 Ad Shevlin Pine Log Summer Cabin Wilbur Tusler Homes Interior Design Valley $41.95 Time Remaining: 29d 3h 17m Buy It Now for only: $41.95 Buy It Now |
 Illinois Postcard New Salem State Park Log Cabin Interior Jack Kelso Lincoln $4.00 Time Remaining: 4d 42m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 Buy It Now |
 Picture LOG CABIN Interior Photo $15.00 Time Remaining: 3d 9h 10m Buy It Now for only: $15.00 Buy It Now |
 SANTA BARBARA CA Tonys Log Cabin Restaurant Bar Interior Old Postcard $8.50 Time Remaining: 22d 9h 49m Buy It Now for only: $8.50 Buy It Now |
 New Salem Illinois Postcard State Park Onstots Log Cabin House Interior 1952 $4.25 Time Remaining: 21d 4h 57m Buy It Now for only: $4.25 Buy It Now |
 1935 Log Cabin Interior Frontier Life Suites De Luks $9.99 Time Remaining: 4h 12m Buy It Now for only: $12.99 Buy It Now | Bid now |
 USA NEW YORK SALAMANCA 1979 POSTCARD INTERIOR LOG CABIN EXHIBIT SENECA MUSEUM $6.49 Time Remaining: 9d 23h 41m Buy It Now for only: $6.49 Buy It Now |
 DETROIT MI LOG CABIN INTERIOR 1906 P C $4.00 Time Remaining: 21d 23h 18m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 Buy It Now |
 Interior of a log cabin with long dining tables $8.99 Time Remaining: 7d 58m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 Buy It Now |
 InteriorOld log cabinfireplace2 children in doorway $8.99 Time Remaining: 7d 3h 31m Buy It Now for only: $8.99 Buy It Now |
 Home Interiors LOG CABIN PLANTER NIB $15.95 Time Remaining: 6d 5h 21m Buy It Now for only: $15.95 Buy It Now |
 Lot 2 the Log Cabin Holyoke Massachusetts MA Christmas Interior Views $2.50 Time Remaining: 2d 21h 22m Buy It Now for only: $2.50 Buy It Now |
 1983 Press Photo Lincoln Log Cabin Interior $19.88 Time Remaining: 5d 18h 35m Buy It Now for only: $19.88 Buy It Now |
 INTERIOR LOG CABIN NITE CLUB CHIPPEWA FALLS WI POSTCARD $7.97 Time Remaining: 10d 11h 14m Buy It Now for only: $7.97 Buy It Now |
 Vintage LOG CABIN Bird House HOME INTERIORS Trinket Box Vanity Jewelry Box Plant $34.88 Time Remaining: 22d 4h 23m Buy It Now for only: $34.88 Buy It Now |
 old postcard Interior of Log Cabin Inn Detroit MI FEM $5.00 Time Remaining: 1d 2h 54m |
 Post Card Interior Of Log Cabin Palmer Park Detroit MI $9.99 Time Remaining: 17d 6h 52m Buy It Now for only: $9.99 Buy It Now |
 1967 Interior Of Log Cabin Orig Press Photo $18.88 Time Remaining: 16d 5h 56m Buy It Now for only: $18.88 Buy It Now |
 1973 Press Photo Interior Log Cabin Istachatta Florida $33.88 Time Remaining: 22d 13h 26m Buy It Now for only: $33.88 Buy It Now |
 Rustic Laurel Stair Porch Railings Interior Exterior Log Cabin Furniture 4 $180.00 Time Remaining: 20d 12h 49m Buy It Now for only: $180.00 Buy It Now |
 Vintage HOME INTERIORS Log Cabin Bird House Trinket Box Vanity Jewelry Box Plant $28.88 Time Remaining: 22d 4h 25m Buy It Now for only: $28.88 Buy It Now |
 1900 LOG CABIN ARCHITECTURE PHOTOS INTERIOR DESIGN WILSE NORTHWEST WASHINGTON $34.95 Time Remaining: 4d 1h 54m Buy It Now for only: $34.95 Buy It Now |
 Hubert Minnesota MN c30s RPPC Girls Log Cabin Interior $22.99 Time Remaining: 24d 10h 33m Buy It Now for only: $22.99 Buy It Now |
 Homco Home Interiors Log Cabin Canoe Ducks Birds Tealight Candle Holder V 13820 $59.95 Time Remaining: 1d 8h 25m Buy It Now for only: $59.95 Buy It Now |
