Slabsides facts for kids
|
Slabsides (John Burroughs Cabin)
|
|
Slabsides in 2005
|
|
| Location | West Park, New York |
|---|---|
| Nearest city | Poughkeepsie |
| Area | 170 acres (68 ha) |
| Built | 1895 |
| Architect | John Burroughs |
| Architectural style | Adirondack log cabin |
| NRHP reference No. | 68000034 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | November 24, 1968 |
| Designated NHL | November 24, 1968 |
Slabsides is a special log cabin built in 1895 by a famous writer and nature lover named John Burroughs and his son. It's located in a beautiful, wooded area in West Park, New York. John Burroughs loved this cabin because it was a quiet place where he could connect with nature. Many important people visited him there, like President Theodore Roosevelt and inventor Henry Ford. Even students from Vassar College came to see him!
What is Slabsides?
Slabsides is a simple, one-story log cabin. It has an open main room and a small bedroom. The cabin sits on a hill in the middle of the John Burroughs Nature Sanctuary. This sanctuary is a large, wooded area within the Marlboro Mountains.
You can't drive right up to Slabsides. Visitors park on a gravel road and then walk about half a kilometer (0.3 miles) along a path to reach the cabin. This walk helps you feel like you're stepping back in time, just as John Burroughs did.
The Story of Slabsides
John Burroughs wrote about Slabsides in his essay called "Far and Near." He said that life felt different there. It was simpler and less complicated. The cabin got its name "Slabsides" because of the rough, bark-covered wood strips on its outside walls. Burroughs felt the name fit the peaceful mood of the place perfectly.
Many parts of the cabin are still the same as when John and his son built it. For example, the strong red cedar posts that hold up the porch are original.
After John Burroughs passed away in 1921, the cabin and land were given to the John Burroughs Association. This group was formed to help keep his memory and work alive. In the 1960s, nearby logging and building plans threatened the area. The association worked hard to buy more land to protect Slabsides. This is how the property grew into the 170-acre (68 ha) John Burroughs Sanctuary we know today.
In 1968, Slabsides was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States. Two other places connected to John Burroughs, Riverby and Woodchuck Lodge, also have this special title.
Visiting Slabsides Today
If you want to visit Slabsides, you'll need to park on Burroughs Drive and walk about 800 meters (half a mile) uphill. The cabin itself is kept just as John Burroughs left it. It's only open to visitors a couple of times a year. You can usually visit on the third Saturday in May and the first Saturday in October, from noon to 4:30 p.m.
However, the John Burroughs Sanctuary is open all year round. There are many hiking trails for visitors to explore. These trails let you enjoy the same woods that inspired John Burroughs so much. It's a great place to connect with nature, just like he did!
See also
