Log Cabin House Portrait Boulder, Colorado

Colorado Log Cabin in the Snow

I have always loved log cabins and after spending time in Colorado a few years ago, I realized that they fit perfectly with the harsh winters and alpine setting of this state. The ever-present mountains remind me of my New Zealand homeland and I saw the most beautiful sunsets while there. I found that log cabins in Colorado can range from a modest cottage to very large and elaborately crafted log homes such as the examples below.

Modest log cabin
Elegant log home in the mountains

The origin of the log cabin dates back to around 1638, where the first log cabins were built in the city of Wilmington, Delaware. Most were constructed by settlers from either Sweden or Finland, and their method of production was quickly adopted by other immigrants. For centuries now, the log cabin has represented frontier life and has become a symbol of the early settlers here in America.

So how did the early settlers go about building their log cabin? At the very beginning of pioneer life, the site on which the cabin was built needed to hold certain attributes. Not only did they take into account the location in relation to management of their land, they also made sure the building was built on a location that would get ample sunlight and provide proper drainage. The logs that were used to construct the cabin were typically stripped of all their bark before putting it together. Then by stacking tree trunks one on top of another and overlapping the logs at the corners, the log cabin was built. It was made weather-tight by the notched interlocking corners with moss inserted into any crevices.

Most all of them had a single door from which to come and go and an attic space that could be used as a loft. To accommodate their need for heat, a chimney was constructed on the exterior and any windows would be covered with an oiled paper and a set of wooden shutters. Any of the typical openings, windows, door and fireplaces, were actually made after the structure was erected. This kept the settlers protected from the elements.

Eventually settlers began to move West in search of gold. Gold is discovered in Dry Creek [Englewood], Colorado in 1858 stimulating the Pikes Peak Gold rush. The first permanent Anglo-European settlers arrived at the mouth of Boulder Canyon at this time.The Boulder City Town Company was formed in 1859 and the area began to grow. By 1860, it had a population of 324. And the log cabin was an integral part of early life in the West.

Nowadays, we still appreciate the log cabin in its rustic beauty. Who wouldn’t enjoy a cozy evening sitting by the fire and imagining what our forefathers did in forming our history?!

That’s all for now,

Leisa

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