Kooser State Park Family Cabin District
Why it's listed
Built by the Civilian Conservation Corps between 1933 and 1939, the Kooser State Park Family Cabin District is a group of log and wood-frame cabins and latrines in a wooded area beside Kooser Run, in Jefferson Township, Somerset County. The camp that built it, CCC Camp S-99, also known as Camp Summit, developed the park during those years. The district includes cabins with cross-gabled or pyramidal roofs, saddle-notched log walls, stone chimneys and stone-pier porches. Their designs use local natural materials and are placed to blend with the landscape. The district is considered important as an example of the rustic style promoted by the National Park Service, which shaped many national and state parks. It is also linked to the Civilian Conservation Corps, one of the most significant New Deal relief efforts, and to recreation that has continued for roughly fifty years. Of the thirteen buildings in the district, one modern latrine built after 1945 does not contribute to its significance.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · catalog entry. Generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29).
| Period of significance | 1933-1939 |
|---|---|
| Styles | Rustic |
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Acreage | 9.2 |
| Boundary source | NPS cultural-resource GIS polygon |
| Full listing page | Kooser State Park Family Cabin District (property record) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.