Anne Tanner, age 12, of Decatur, Ill, for her question:

WHEN WAS THE FIRST LOG CABIN BUILT IN THE U.S.?

The log cabin was the typical dwelling of the American pioneer during the westward expansion after 1765. The log cabin was introduced to America in 1638 by the Swedish colonists of the Delaware River valley, who were familiar with it as the type of structure used in northern Europe.

After 1718 the Scotch Irish introduced it throughout the America backwoods.

By the time of the American Revolution the cabin had become the characteristic frontier dwelling. It remained so throughout the settling of the West, until the sparsely wooded Great Plains were reached, at which point the sod house supplanted it.

Log construction reappeared when westward expansion reached the timbered Rocky Mountains.

Among the many famous Americans born in log cabins were Presidents William Henry Harrison, Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant.