How Were Pioneer Log Cabins Made?

Pioneer cabins varied from region to region depending on materials available.

There were many different ways pioneers made log cabins, but the basic idea was always the same. Using basic tools and anything on hand, crudely built log cabins led the way to the eventual settlement of the entire United States.

History

Cabins have been built since the first settlers arrived in the United States from Europe, and Western expansion continued that trend. At one point, everything from the Appalachians on west was considered open territory for pioneers.

Geography

While most people think of the Rocky Mountains or the modern-day West as early pioneer territory, anything west of the Appalachian Mountains used to be considered wild territory. This is part of the reason many pioneer cabins can be found in Kentucky, Tennessee and Midwestern states.

Tools Needed

A saw and ax was needed for felling trees and shaping logs to build the cabin. An additional ax, the broad ax, was used to cut notches so the logs could fit together, while anyone using nails would need an ax with a flat head to hammer them in.

Importance of Nails

Nails were considered so important that if a family decided to abandon a cabin and continue West, they often burned down the cabin and retrieved the metal nails from the ashes for future use.

Famous Ties

There were many famous historical figures who grew up in cabins, from author Laura Ingalls Wilder to President Abraham Lincoln or poet Walt Whitman.

References

• Camp Silos: Pioneer Resources & Webliography
• History of Campbell County Tennessee: Early Pioneers Lived in One Room Log Cabins