The Oldest Home In Iowa Is An 1820s Log Cabin And Is Truly Something To Marvel Over
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Long before Iowa was a state, a fur trader built a cabin not far from the west bank of the Mississippi in an area that’s now Dubuque. A lot happened in the next two centuries, but the cabin still stands, and it’s now the oldest log cabin west of the Mississippi. The Arriandeaux Cabin is a site you can visit and a trip here will take you back hundreds of years.
The cabin was built around 1827 by L. Arriandeaux, a French fur trader from Canada. It was located on Second and Locust Streets close to St. Raphael Cathedral, an area that's now downtown Dubuque.
The cabin is built in a style called dogtrot - it has two rooms that are connected by a breezeway. It's a style common in southern states, as it allows cooling air to flow through the structure.
Eventually, the cabin was covered with siding and made to look like a more modern home. In 1915, there were plans to demolish the home to make room for a gas station, but when someone peered underneath the siding, they discovered the logs and decided to save the cabin.
Around 1917, the cabin was moved to Eagle Point Park, where it served as a picnic pavilion for 50 years. In 1965, the cabin was moved to its present location, the Mathias Ham Historic Site in Dubuque. Volunteers carefully maintain the building.
Operated by the Dubuque County Historical Society, the property has a collection of historical buildings, including the cabin, an old home, a schoolhouse and a historic granary. The site also has a replica of an old mine and a "badger hole," a primitive shelter used by miners that makes the Arriandeaux cabin look luxurious.
The site tells the story of the area with the help of costumed interpreters who provide guided tours. There’s a rich history just waiting to be discovered in Iowa. Here are 15 landmarks you absolutely must visit.
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Address: Mathias Ham Historic Site, 2241 Lincoln Ave, Dubuque, IA 52001, USA
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