More than a century ago, log cabins were a common sight in Appalachia and other rural areas of the eastern United States. Samuel and Elizabeth Matthews built this cabin near Galax in 1869. Made largely of oak, it has one room on each of its two floors. Over time, the family installed a wood stove and added a bedroom, a metal roof, and weatherboarding. In 1956 Matthews Cabin was donated to the National Park Service. Workers carefully restored the structure to its earlier appearance and moved it to this site. Because there were many small sawmills, frame houses were also common in Appalachia. The Mabrys built their home on this site about 1914. They used boards and chestnut paneling sawed at their mill and workshop.