Linn Run State Park Family Cabin District
Why it's listed
Along both banks of Linn Run in Linn Run State Park, near Rector in Westmoreland County, lies a district of thirteen buildings and three structures built as a family cabin area during the 1930s. The park was developed jointly by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the Works Progress Administration on land within Forbes State Forest. The cabins are built of local stone and wane-edged wood siding, with stone chimneys, stone piers and porches. Several have cross-gabled or pyramidal roofs, and some use log or squared timber columns. Other CCC-built features include two stone footbridges, a steel I-beam automobile bridge with stone abutments and low stone cooking fireplaces. The Corps landscaped the logged area and built roads and utilities. The district is significant for its association with the Civilian Conservation Corps and the New Deal, and for its rustic architecture, which blends with the natural setting. The three modern latrines are excluded as non-contributing resources.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to meet Criteria A and C as associated with Emergency Conservation Work by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a major New Deal relief program. Its cabins and structures are presented as examples of the rustic style promoted by the National Park Service, using local natural materials and placed to blend with the landscape. The nomination also cites the district's role in recreation and in employing 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 87000107, listed February 12, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. SE of Rector on Linn Run Rd., Rector |
|---|---|
| County | Westmoreland County |
| Listed | February 12, 1987 |
| Reference number | 87000107 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1933-1942 |
| 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) | Condition recorded as good with excellent integrity; used as recreational facilities |
| Acreage | 13.5 |
| Coordinates | 40.15349, -79.21738 (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 87000107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q28119215
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.