An original log cabin was built in the early 1850's on a farm northeast of New Glarus. As families moved in and out of the home, additional rooms were added until the log cabin became concealed within a frame home. In 1975, as the abandoned house was being razed, the 14 x 16 foot cabin was uncovered. The owner of the property, Harold Hoesly, donated the structure to the New Glarus Historical Society. To move it, each log was numbered and carefully dismantled, and it was then reassembled on the museum grounds with its original floor. Steps lead to a loft that was used as a sleeping area for family members, and the cabin is structurally sound without the aid of nails or wooden pegs.