Drake Log Cabin
Why it's listed
A one-room log cabin measuring 18 by 22 feet stands in Apollo, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, built of hand-hewn logs set in layers of mud mortar beneath a split-shingle gable roof with an end stone chimney. Its construction date is uncertain because an 1858 fire destroyed early land transfer records in the county courthouse. Local tradition places its origin between 1816 and 1848, and a deed of 1882 names George Hunter as an original purchaser of the lot, with a 1916 history crediting him as its builder. The cabin is considered the oldest surviving structure in Apollo, since all buildings from the town's earliest period have been lost. It exemplifies an early folk dwelling type brought to the region by settlers and carried westward by pioneers through Pennsylvania in the late 1700s and early-to-mid 1800s. The restoration completed in 1971 preserved its board-and-batten gable ends, iron strap hinges, and horseshoe above the doorway. Today it serves as a museum operated by the Apollo Area Historical Society.
Significance in brief: The cabin is significant for its early folk construction type and its role in the historical development of Apollo Borough. Its exact construction date is uncertain because early land records were lost in an 1858 courthouse fire. The form states it is the finest example of this dwelling type remaining in Armstrong County and the only one in Apollo Borough.
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 83002214, listed March 3, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | Williams Alley, Apollo |
|---|---|
| County | Armstrong County |
| Listed | March 3, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83002214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1810 |
| Architectural style | Folk construction; one-room log dwelling |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1971; presently utilized as a museum. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.57844, -79.56632 (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 83002214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5305612
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.