Celebrate Log Cabin Day the Last Sunday in June Every Year
As summer swings into high gear, and we seek to take a break from the busyness of life, we have a day that celebrates a symbol of a truly simpler time: Log Cabin Day.
Log cabins bring to mind the old American West. A rugged place in a simpler time. Well, simpler in terms of modern contraptions and “stuff,” anyway. Life in general was certainly anything but simple.
Take for example these not-so-simple facts of life:
- There were no gas or electric stoves. You cooked over an open fire or a wood-burning stove. That stove might double as your heater for the winter, along with a fireplace (also wood burning). You had to chop all that wood yourself!
- Air-conditioning was an open window. Of course without screens bugs, birds and any flying critters could also come in.
- The “bathroom” was in a whole different building … The outhouse back by the woods.
- Oh, and there’s a good chance you had to build that log cabin before you could live in it.
Life was somehow both simpler and more complicated than today.
The Log Cabin Society created this day, holding the first Log Cabin Day on June 25, 1986. The Society’s goal was to promote the preservation of log cabins and a better understanding of what life was like when these cabins were common.
Michigan’s state legislature passed a bill making Log Cabin Day part of its statutes, with Section 435.24, Sec. 1 stating “The last Sunday in June of each year shall be known as “log cabin day”.”
So today we celebrate Log Cabin Day on the last Sunday in June every year. Some people prefer to celebrate on the June 25 anniversary of the first Log Cabin Day each year instead.
Scroll down for some ideas on celebrating this unofficial holiday.
How to Celebrate Log Cabin Day
Why not spend at least part of the day living more like those early residents of log cabins?
- Turn off the computers and cell phones.
- Leave off the electric lights; use candles for light instead. But only if you can do so safely.
- Spend the day on outdoor activities. It doesn’t matter what—fishing, hiking, birdwatching. Or just wandering around a nature preserve and seeing what you can see. Look down at the flowers, rocks, fallen leaves and bugs. Look up at the trees, birds and clouds. Just enjoy.
If there’s a museum or historical society with log cabins near you, visit to marvel at these simple homes. Many historical organizations have special events, tours and/or presentations to celebrate Log Cabin Day.
Many state parks and other camping areas have log cabins you can rent. Consider spending the weekend in one.
Even if you can’t find a log cabin to rent, consider at least going camping for a night and cooking dinner over a fire.
Can’t get away for the day? Build a little log cabin of your own. Use Lincoln Logs or sticks & twigs from the yard. It doesn’t have to be perfect! Just yours.
It’s much less authentic, but your kids might also enjoy building this LEGO Log Cabin.
Do you enjoy having birds in your yard? Give them their very own log cabin too, with this adorable little Log Cabin Birdhouse!
Do you know of any Log Cabin Day events near you? Share!
Dates for Future Log Cabin Day Celebrations
Since the date of the last Sunday in June changes each year, here’s a list of the dates for the next few years. We wouldn’t want you to miss one!
- 2019 – Sunday, June 30
- 2020 – Sunday, June 28
- 2021 – Sunday, June 27
- 2022 – Sunday, June 26
- 2023 – Sunday, June 25
- 2024 – Sunday, June 30
- 2025 – Sunday, June 29
- 2026 – Sunday, June 28
- 2027 – Sunday, June 27
- 2028 – Sunday, June 25
- 2029 – Sunday, June 24
[…] Log Cabin Day: Spending the day, or even the whole weekend, in a log cabin sounds perfect right about now! If you can manage it, why not plan to do that. (Shoot, we’d like to spend the rest of the year in a log cabin in the middle of nowhere!). […]