Many generations ago, the cabin was the backbone of American life; it was the headquarters of that important unit—the home. It provided shelter, protection, and a foundation upon which to build a great empire. The pioneer cabin, understandably, was a necessity.

Even in today's modern and complex world, many people still reside in cabins built to withstand permanent housing. In addition, cabins that serve as hunting and fishing lodges, summer cottages, and bungalows are seen as recreational luxuries. Cabins are healthy investments—when built correctly and cared for continuously, that is.

Originally published in 1934, How to Build Cabins, Lodges, and Bungalows is both a historical and practical text that offers step-by-step instructions on how to build these structures and their various components: doors, windows, shutters, fireplaces, chimneys, porches, and more.

In addition to shedding light on how cabins, lodges, bungalows—and even wayside stands and tourist homes—are built, the editors of Popular Science Monthly also included ideas for furnishing and decorating the finished homes and lodges, along with suggested lands on which to build them and tips on how to finance them.