Mena, Arkansas Log Cabin Collage
Author: Aspen Regan | Major: Architecture | Semester: Spring 2025
During the Spring 2025 semester I completed a research project under the guidance of my mentor, historian Dr. Kim Sexton. This project had roots in an Honors course, Modes of Design Inquiry (MODI), part of the Fay Jones Honors curriculum that I had taken a year previously. It was during this course that I first discovered my connection to and affection for the log cabin, leading to a research project exploring these iconic structures.
The journey to narrow my focus was not without challenge. To guide my inquiry, I began by listing every personal connection I had to log cabins. I grew up visiting my great-great-grandfather’s log cabin in Mena, Arkansas, read the Little House series throughout my youth, played with Lincoln Logs, had Log Cabin syrup on more than one occasion, and was familiar with the term “Log Cabin Republicans.” It became clear: the log cabin was an omnipresent symbol. But why? Why are so many National Park buildings made of log construction? Why does the log cabin persist in American culture? These questions led me to my research inquiry: What role did the promotion of log cabin imagery play in shaping public perceptions of American identity, especially concerning authenticity, nostalgia, and belonging? What effects does this imagery have today?
Choosing my faculty mentor was, luckily, easy. Dr. Sexton teaches the historical architecture courses at Fay Jones and was the natural choice for the lead on this project. While her personal research does not particularly pertain to the log cabin, I think it is important to prioritize a mentor who you feel is organized and fully prepared to guide you in the style of research and paper in which you are completing. Your mentor, as Dr. Sexton did for me, can facilitate connections to individuals with research more closely matching your own.
My research traced the log cabin’s history in America from 1840 to 1980 and was organized into three case studies dedicated to understanding its transformation from necessary dwelling to cultural symbol:
Case Study 01 | The Log Cabin in Politics: the 1840 Presidential Election and Abraham Lincoln’s Birthplace.
Case Study 02 | Log Cabin Toys: Analyzing Lincoln Logs and their cultural significance as a children’s toy.
Case Study 03 | The Log Cabin in Literature and Television: Examining the Little House on the Prairie series and its role in shaping perceptions of pioneer life.
The research process involved reading various primary sources, such as Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House books and analyzing 1900s advertisements for Lincoln Logs. The biggest struggle I faced throughout this process was balancing the need for depth while adhering to a single semester schedule. Dr. sexton was instrumental in helping me stay on track.
After completing the case studies, I concluded that the log cabin serves as both a physical and symbolic mediator of American myths. From its humble beginnings to its role as an enduring symbol in national consciousness, the log cabin represents foundational ideals such as self-reliance, simplicity, and authenticity. These myths have maintained their influence well into the twenty-first century, evolving alongside changes in American society.
For architects and design professionals, understanding the log cabin’s historical and emotional resonance provides valuable context. In a nation where nostalgia and cultural symbolism run deep, recognizing the log cabin’s impact can inform more thoughtful and culturally sensitive design practices. Ultimately, my research highlights the importance of challenging established myths to better understand one’s place within the broader cultural landscape, and to gain clarity in one’s perception of American history.
Because of the Honors College Research Grant, I was able to complete this project with the assurance that I could afford all necessary materials. I could not be more grateful for the Honors College’s support in completing a project that is so personal and powerful. This research serves as the groundwork for other inquiries into the log cabin’s significance and I look forward to continuing to discover all the log cabin has to offer!