Log Cabin Architecture During the 17th and 18th century the Eastern and Central Europeans settlers brought their knowledge of log construction. The colonial French introduced vertical log construction down in Mississippi in the 17th century. During the 18th and early 19th century frontier settlers built log cabins as they moved south through Maryland, Virginia, the Carolinas and Georgia. Log buildings are known to have been built for a short time of use. The soldiers of the Revolutionary war used them for shelter. Log cabins were not only used for housing it was used for schools, churches, commercial structures, etc. Around the mid 19th century settlers began to construct log buildings in the western part of the United States of America. Americans found log buildings that were built by Russian traders and colonists in the late 18th and early 19th century. Scandinavian and Finnish immigrants brought their own log building techniques to America. The Old faithful inn at Yellowstone national park in Wyoming is a great example of the craftsmen movement of the late 18th and early 19th century. The Resort which, was designed by Robert C. Reamer, was a very influential building for its use of natural materials, which gave it a rustic design. Gustav Stickley and other leaders of the craftsmen movement promoted log buildings. During the 1930s-1940s, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) used log construction in many of the state and national parks.
These are 2 styles of log cabin building
Round Log Chink: This style uses round logs with a round notch or a half of full compound dovetail corner. A chink gap is left between the logs to be finished with chinking.
Broadaxe Hewn Log: The corners are locked together with half or full compound dovetails corners. This style of log work is very pleasing to the eye, as the natural curves and variations remain in the log.
Sources: http://www.pedersenlogsmiths.com/log_styles.htm
