Barber, Obediah, Homestead
Why it's listed
Built in 1870, this one-story log house sits on the northwestern edge of the Okefenokee Swamp near Waycross. Its single pen is made of round cypress logs cut from the swamp, saddle notched at the corners, with a side-gabled metal roof that extends over the brick chimney to shield the log wall. Shed-roofed porches and wood-framed rooms were added along the sides. Obediah Barber, a farmer, hunter and storyteller born in 1825, built the home on a 490-acre parcel and raised cattle, hogs, rice and corn. He guided survey parties exploring and mapping the swamp in 1857, 1875 and 1890. The house is described as the oldest known swamp settler's house still standing and a good example of coastal Georgia log building. It is now the centerpiece of an interpretive park showing a late nineteenth-century swamp farmstead. The original well is included, along with a reconstructed kitchen.
Significance in brief: The house is argued to be significant under Criterion A for representing the frontier farming life of Okefenokee Swamp settlers, under Criterion B for its link to Obediah Barber, who guided 19th-century swamp surveys, and under Criterion C as an intact example of coastal Georgia log construction. It is described as the oldest known swamp settler's house remaining in and around the swamp.
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) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 95000742, listed June 20, 1995. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off Swamp Rd. approximately 7 mi. S of Waycross, Waycross |
|---|---|
| County | Ware County |
| Listed | June 20, 1995 |
| Reference number | 95000742 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1870-1909 |
| Architectural style | Other: single pen (vernacular log house) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Exploration/Settlement |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Now part of an interpretive park open to the public, with the house used as a museum. The kitchen and well structure have been reconstructed, and the brick chimney was recently rebuilt. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 31.09035, -82.34575 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 95000742.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q24197340
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.