The Oldest Home In Iowa Is An 1820S Log Cabin That Is A Marvel

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.

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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.

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The fur trader did not stay long. The cabin had many owners - it served as a church, a barber’s home and a blacksmith shop.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.