(1630-1880, 1930-present) Most often seen in the Midwest and southern mountain regions of the United States, log cabin style homes were popular until the mid-nineteenth century.
Abundant evergreen forests in Northern Europe inspired immigrants who were from those areas to bring their homebuilding skills with them to America. Today, modern log-style homes are still popular in many resort areas in the mountain regions of the west and south.
The solid construction of log style homes makes them warm shelters from the harsh elements of cold, windy climates. Classic construction of these homes did not include nails. The logs were notched to fit together snugly, then any gaps that remained were tightly packed with fill that could include mud, sticks, and wood chips, also called chinking. Any opening such as windows and doors, were kept to a minimum to preserve heat. The main source of light and heat in traditional log homes came from the fireplace. Today’s log style homes have abundant windows, inviting natural light and beautiful views into the homes’ living areas.
