The Homestead Life of the Mid-1800s

Dogtrot Log House and Out Buildings

Imagine what daily life was like in the 1850s.

Step into our dogtrot-style log house and explore its two unique rooms, known as 'pens.' Discover how multipurpose spaces of the past were decorated and furnished. From a real bear rug to a yarn spinning wheel, an oil lamp to a feather pen and inkwell, and a hand-carved wooden dough bowl to an old-fashioned sitz tub, you'll gain a deep appreciation for the way people lived in bygone days—and how far we've come today!"

Bear rug in the dog-trot log house.

Dogtrot Log House - Bedroom

  • Bear rug

  • Inkwell and feather pen

  • Oil lamp

  • Rope-based feather bed

  • Table & chairs

  • Stone fireplace

  • Storage cabinet

  • Yarn spinning wheel

  • Yarn winder

  • Violin

  • Wooden rocking chairs

Spinning wheel in the dog-trot log house.

Dogtrot Log House - Kitchen

  • Cast iron pots in the fireplace

  • Churn

  • Clay pots and jugs

  • Firewood bin

  • Food graters

  • Iron ladles

  • Period table and chairs

  • Sitz bath

  • Stone Fireplace

  • Wooden baby high chair

  • Wood trencher bowl (wood dough bowl)

Homestead outbuildings.

Homestead Outbuildings

  • Barn

  • Dinner bell

  • Feed trough

  • Hand pump

  • Smokehouse

  • Water well

Visit Our Other Historic Properties and See Thousands of Artifacts

Select a building to discover what is inside.

Adair Annex and Museum Welcome Center.ade.
Image of Anheuser-Busch building.
Image of the WW&H Exchange building.
Dorman House.
One-room schoolhouse with the US flag.