The history of log cabins and cottages is deeply tied to the development of rural life and early settlement across the world. Log cabins originated in Northern Europe, particularly among Scandinavian peoples, who perfected the technique of stacking interlocking logs to create sturdy, weatherproof homes. This building method was brought to North America by European settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries, where it became a symbol of frontier life. Pioneers in regions such as Appalachia and the American Midwest built log cabins from readily available timber, using simple tools and craftsmanship to create durable shelters in the wilderness. Cottages, meanwhile, evolved from small rural dwellings in Britain and Europe, often built of stone or wood and associated with farming families and country living. Over time, both log cabins and cottages came to represent simplicity, self-reliance, and harmony with nature. In the modern era, they have been romanticized as cozy retreats and rustic getaways, blending traditional charm with contemporary comfort while preserving their roots in craftsmanship and homestead heritage.
All of the book titles that are included in this DVD are listed as follows:
Paul Bunyan's Log Cabin Book (1932) - 44 Pages
Shelters Shacks and Shanties (1914) - 272 Pages
The American Cottage Builder: A Series of Designs, Plans, and Specifications, from $200 to $20,000 (1876) - 384 Pages
The Cottage Builder's Manual (1856) - 188 Pages
Low Cost Cottage Construction in America; A Study on the Housing Collection in the Harvard social Museum (1917) - 67 Pages
The Country Life Book of Cottages (1848) - 270 Pages
Sketches in Architecture: Consisting of Original Designs for Cottages and Rural Dwellings, Suitable to Persons of Moderate Fortune, and for Convenient Retirement (1807) - 72 Pages
Cottages and Cottage Life: containing Plans for Country Houses, Adapted to the Means and Wants of the People of the United States (1848) - 284 Pages
Rural Architecture Being a Complete Description of Farm Houses, Cottages, and Out Buildings, comprising Wood Houses, Workshops (1852) - 394 Pages
American Country Houses of Today (1911) - 322 Pages
How to Build Country Houses (1868) - 186 Pages
Architectural Sketches for Cottages (1805) - 128 Pages
Country Cottages and Weekend Homes (1912) - 250 Pages
Modern Housing in Town and Country (1905) - 223 Pages
Cottage Residences or A Series of Designs for Rural Cottages and Cottage Villas and Their Gardens and Grounds (1856) - 234 Pages
The Country Gentleman's Architect (1789) - 102 Pages
Kenyon Take Down Houses (1921) - 52 Pages
Summer Homes and Lodges (1941) - 36 Pages
Kamp Kabins and Wee Homes (1952) - 36 Pages
Vacation Cabins: A Selection of Small Cabins for Comfort, Utility, Economy (1939) - 54 Pages
Your Guide to a Professionally Planned Vacation Home (1961) - 12 Pages
The House, A Manual of Rural Architecture, or, How to Build Country Houses and Out-Buildings (1866) - 186 Pages
Practical Bungalows and Cottages for Town and Country (1916) - 266 Pages
Summer Living (1947) - 36 Pages
Wilderness Homes; A Book of the Log cabin (1908) - 234 Pages
Log Cabins and Cottages How to Build and Furnish Them (1908) - 136 Pages
Palliser's American Cottage Homes (1878) - 116 Pages
Cottage Building in Cob, Pisé, Chalk & Clay (1919) - 168 Pages
Cabins, Cottages and Summer Homes (1947) - 188 Pages
Modern Cottages, Contains 125 Illustrations of Cottages, Dwellings, and Miscellaneous Work (1921) - 134 Pages
Old English Country Cottages (1906) - 268 Pages
Inexpensive Rural Cottages and Buildings for Small Holdings (1906) - 124 Pages
The Patterson Log Cabin (1906) - 98 Pages