Cypress Log Cabin at Indiana Dunes National Park

old black and white picture of a log cabin with a landscaped yard
Cypress Log Cabin, from "A Century of Progress Homes and Furnishings as exhibited at the World's Fair, Chicago, 1934" Dorothy Raley, Editor, M.A. Ring Company Publishers, Chicago.

The Cypress Log Cabin was displayed at Chicago’s Century of Progress World’s Fair from 1933 to 1934, designed by architect Murray D. Heatherington and sponsored by the Southern Cypress Manufacturer’s Association of Jacksonville, Florida. Unlike the other houses in the Home and Industrial Arts Group, the cabin wasn’t built for living but to showcase the versatility of cypress in construction and decoration.

Ironically, it was the only house in the Home and Industrial Arts Group to serve as housing during the fair. A representative of the Association and his wife lived in the cabin’s ell, which included a bedroom, bath, and pantry, throughout both fair seasons. Known at the fair as the "Southern Cypress Cabin," it evoked a mountain lodge atmosphere with its decorative touches—fences, arbors, and bridges adorned with cypress knees carved into the shapes of animal heads, reptiles, and fantasy creatures. Unfortunately, these details were not replicated after the home was moved to Beverly Shores by real estate developer Robert Bartlett shortly after the Fair closed.

 
photo of bird house attached to top front of cabin designed to match the log cabin
Cypress Log Cabin, dovecoat, taken in 1994
by Jack Boucher, Photographer, Historic
American Buildings Survey, National Park Service.

The cabin has withstood nearly a century of the elements along the lakefront. Known as "the wood eternal," cypress is an extremely durable material, and downed cypress trees from Hurricane Katrina were even used in its later restoration. The cabin features cypress throughout, including siding, shakes, structural timbers, walls, flooring, window shades, and furnishings.

Over the decades, it served as a private residence before being carefully restored through a collaborative leasing program between Indiana Landmarks, the National Park Service, and private partners. Now, thanks to the efforts of IN the Dunes, Indiana Landmarks, and Indiana Dunes National Park, this historic cabin is being opened to the public as a short-term rental, allowing guests to enjoy a unique stay steeped in American architectural history.

Last updated: October 11, 2024

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Mailing Address:

1100 North Mineral Springs Road
Porter, IN 46304

Phone:

219 395-1882
Indiana Dunes Visitor Center phone number.

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