Although the earlier settlers that came to southwestern Minnesota built sod homes as their first residences, the log cabin proved to be the structure that could survive the harsh elements of Minnesota.  Constructed of timber found near the rivers, many log homes are now in the possession of local historical societies for their safe keeping.

The Hanson log cabin is located in the Swift County Historical Museum in Benson. Built by Rasmus and Guri Hanson in 1871, a wood framed house was built around the log cabin, probably to expand the size of the home. In 1980 the Hanson family removed the log cabin and donated it to the Swift County Historical Society. The Hanson Log Cabin now stands inside the Museum as it was originally built in 1871. It contains family photos of the generations that used this log cabin on the prairie in Swift County.

In Stevens County a log house was dismantled and moved to the SWELL site in 1994. The log house has both typical and unusual features. This house, which is typical of German log house construction, with neat dovetailed notches at the corners, was built in 1871-72 by Adolph and Auguste Trantow, both German immigrants. Until the coming of the railroad, the most common form of subsistence dwelling was probably the sod dugout. Although Stevens County was mostly treeless prairie in the 1870's, the Trantows hauled the logs overland from near Pomme de Terre Lake, a distance of several miles.

Apparently, the exterior of the log house was white-washed. Portions of the original chinking still survive, including bunches of prairie grass stuffed into gaps between the logs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the only surviving log house of the relatively few built in Stevens County. It is located at the SWELL site in Framnas Township in the northeastern corner of the county.

Historic Chippewa City, located in Montevideo, has four log homes as part of its village setting. The Post Office log cabin was built in 1870 by Hans Lund and is the original Reeser Post Office which served the Watson area. The Gippe Cabin was built in 1867 by Heinrich Gippe, one of Chippewa County's earliest settlers, and was the second log cabin built on the homestead, the first was destroyed by fire. The Anderson Cabin built in 1870 by Bardinus Anderson, was home to the formation of the Saron Lutheran Congregation.

This log cabin is said be the most authentic representation of early pioneer life recreated in Minnesota Museums. The final structure, the Burn Fur Trading Post originally was located in Yellow Medicine County and built in 1871 by Martinus Myhre.

The log cabin located at the History Center in Madison is built from large elm and cottonwood logs. This cabin was the first schoolhouse in Hantho Township and also served as a home, granary and warehouse before preservation efforts began. Built in 1870 by Nels Hantho who built four similar cabins in the area, this is the only one that remains. The building was donated in 1949 by Floyd Boraas to the Lac qui Parle County Hisorical Society.

Although this is a small representation of the log cabins located within the six county area, we encourage you to visit these wonderful structures and share in our rich heritage. Join us for a visit to simple beginnings and wonderful memories. 

Historic Sites    Museums