10 Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses

Did you know that some of the oldest wooden cabins and houses date all the way back to the 17th century?  While some of the cabins and houses have had sections renovated or restored for one reason or another, most of the cabins and houses are still utilizing their original wood.  So, without further ado, down below we have gathered 10 of oldest historic log cabins and houses.

10. Log Cabin (Bellevue, Nebraska)

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Log Cabin Bellevue Nebraska

Commonly acknowledged as the oldest building in Nebraska, the Log Cabin was built in the 1830s by a trapper.  It is believed that the Log Cabin was constructed around 1835 near the  Missouri River floodplains until it was moved in 1850 to its current location.  The one and a half story was built from cottonwood logs and it consisted of a bedroom, a loft, and a fireplace.  In the 1900s, several other amenities were added to the cabin such as a kitchen, a pantry, and a basement.  The Log Cabin was used as a private residence up until 1954.  In the present day, the Sarpy County Historical Society maintains the cabin as a memorial to the living conditions of the pioneers.  As of 1970, the Log Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1835

9. Whitcomb Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Whitcomb Cabin

Whitcomb Cabin, also known as the Stephen S. Whitcomb Cabin, was built near Glenwood, Washington in 1875.  The historic log cabin dimensions are 18-by-25-foot.  It is the last surviving log cabin of its locational origin, Lake Conboy.  Whitcomb’s original purpose was to serve as the post office of the Fulda community.  As of 1975, the historic log cabin has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1875

8. Bacon Log Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Bacon Log Cabin

Bacon Log Cabin, currently used as a museum of St. Louis history, is a cabin that was built as early as the 1820s in Ballwin, St. Louis, Missouri.  The cabin was built and owned by William Bacon, who then passed it on through the family.  Bacon log cabin is notable for many reasons.  The two-story historic cabin had fireplaces on both floors, four rooms, a kitchen, and several other luxurious amenities and features.  In addition, the Bacon Log Cabin was built using advanced plastering techniques to entrap heat for its cold forest location.  All the logs used in the cabin were from trees in the cabin’s immediate vicinity.  The Bacon family occupied the cabin until 1889, when it was eventually sold.  As of 1969, Bacon Log Cabin was converted to a museum when it was acquired by the Old Trails Historical Society.

Built in 1820s

7. Kellerman Log Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Kellerman Log Cabin

Kellerman Log Cabin, a historic log cabin located at Conesus in Livingston County, New York, is a one-story, 20 foot by 24 foot structure.  One of its stand-out features is its large partially exposed fieldstone chimney.  The historic log cabin was built by Issac Kellerman in 1816 and it was constructed utilizing stacked adzed logs with dovetail corner joints and mud chinking.  It is considered to be a rare settlement era log cabin and a one-of-kind Genesee Valley structure since the other four cabins didn’t survive.  Since its construction, it has been moved to a public park in 1978.  The Kellerman Log Cabin cabin now houses the Ganeasos History Keepers.  As of 2007, the historical cabin has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.

Built in 1816

6. Miller–Leuser Log House

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Miller Leuser Log House

Recorded as a historic eighteenth-century log cabin, the Miller-Leuser Log House is one of the oldest houses in Cincinnati, Ohio, United States.  Ichabod Miller constructed the cabin in 1796 after purchasing the land from the frontier surveyor and explorer, Nathaniel Massie.  In constructing the one and one half story cabin, Ichabod Miller used both hand-hewn and natural round logs.  Ichabod Miller remained the owner of the historic cabin until 1836, when he would sell it.  Miller-Leuser Log House remained a private residence until 1971, when it was then purchased by the Anderson Township Historical Society.  As of 1974,  the Miller–Leuser Log House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, namely for its architecture.

Built in 1796

5. Hyde Log Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Hyde Cabin

Standing on the east side of US Route 2 north of Grand Isle center and just north of the Grand Isle Elementary School, The Hyde Log Cabin is a historical log cabin believed to be one of the oldest log cabins in the United States.  This historic cabin is a simple one-story structure constructed with peeled cedar logs, and its overall dimensions are 20 by 25 feet.  The cabin was built by Jedediah Hyde, Jr., who ended up raising ten children in the family home.  The significance of this is that the Hyde Log Cabin stayed in the family and was occupied by the Hyde family for over 150 years.  Since then, it has been moved to its current location, where it shares a lot with a small wood-frame 1814 schoolhouse, and has undergone a series of restorations.  Additionally, it is now owned by Vermont and is open to the public as a historic house museum.  As of 1971, it has been added to the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1783

4. Adsit Log Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Adsit Log House

Believed to have been built by Samuel Adsit in 1778, the Adsit Log Cabin is considered to be one of the oldest log cabins in the United States that still exists in its original location.  It is said that the historic log cabin was built by Adsit, an American Revolutionary War veteran, for his family of 16 following the war.  During the 1980s, the townsfolk of Willsboro restored the Adsit Log Cabin to its former glory.  As of 1992, the historical log cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Built in 1778

3. C. A. Nothnagle Log House

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Nothnagle Log House

Considered to be one of the oldest surviving log houses in the United States, C. A. Nothnagle Log House is a log cabin-esque structure that was built between 1638 and 1643 by settlers in the New Sweden colony.  The original cabin measures in at 16 by 22 feet and was constructed using oak logs.  Furthermore, the logs were dovetailed to allow a close fit and hardwood pegs were used as fasteners instead of nails.  There were residents in this section of the C. A. Nothnagle Log House until 1918.  In the early 18th century, the cabin was renovated with a large addition added on to it.  While the house was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, it is still privately owned by Doris Rink.  She opens the cabin to the public for tours by appointment and resides in the large addition of the cabin.

Built in 1685

2. Mortonson-Van Leer Log Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Mortonson Van Leer Log Cabin

Originally built along the north bank of the Raccoon River, Mortonson–Van Leer Log Cabin is a historic log cabin and one of the last historical dwellings in Swedesboro, Gloucester County, New Jersey, United States.  The historic log cabin was built by Morton Mortenson, who arrived at the colony of New Sweden in 1654.  Mortonson-Van Leer Log Cabin is a simple structure consisting of one small room with no windows and a single door.  The walls of the cabin were constructed using cedar logs and lime mortar caulk.  Its historical significance is that it was used as a station for the Underground Railroad prior to and during the American Civil War.  Since then, it has been relocated to a cemetery located behind the Trinity Episcopal Church in Swedesboro.

Built in 1654

1. Lower Swedish Cabin

Oldest Historic Log Cabins and Houses Lower Swedish Cabin

Likely built sometime between 1640 and 1650 by Swedish immigrants of the New Sweden colony, Lower Swedish Cabin is a historic Swedish-style log cabin on Creek Road in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby, Pennsylvania along Darby Creek.   Surprisingly, the cabin long remained inhabited as a private residence until 1937.  After this year, the Lower Swedish Cabin was recorded by the Historic American Buildings Survey and the Cabin became the property of the township of Upper Darby.  Since its transfer of ownership, the house was restored in 1987.  The Lower Swedish Cabin is notable in history as it’s considered to be one of the oldest log cabins in the United States.

Built in 1640-1650

Discover the Possibilities


Feeling inspired to build a record breaking wooden structure of your own?  Well, you’re in luck!  Visit our timber & wood building products page to see all the wood & materials we provide.

Be sure to check back often, and don’t hesitate to contact us if you have an idea for a project.  We have designers on staff to assist and we provide nationwide shipping.