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.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the district is associated with the Emergency Conservation Work of the Civilian Conservation Corps, a major New Deal relief program, and that its buildings exemplify the rustic style of architecture espoused by the National Park Service. It also argues the cabins represent federal and state cooperation on state-owned land and a federal humanitarian program that employed thousands of jobless young men during the Depression.
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 87000111, listed February 12, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 10 mi. N of PA Turnpike Exit 10 on PA 31, Jefferson |
|---|---|
| County | Somerset County |
| Listed | February 12, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000111 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1933-1939 |
| Architectural style | Rustic |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Landscape Architecture, Conservation, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition with excellent integrity as recorded on the survey form; the day use area has lost its original integrity. |
| Acreage | 9.2 |
| Coordinates | 40.06178, -79.23103 (NPS GIS) |
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.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 87000111.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q98883594
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.