Pioneer Cabin

Historic Cabin

Tucked into the shade of Pioneer Park, just a short walk from the heart of Prineville, the Pioneer Log Cabin Museum offers a rare glimpse into homestead life in the Ochoco Mountains during the late 1800s. Once the family home of William Jasper Wright and Annie Laura Howes, this historic cabin tells a deeply personal—and authentically local—story of early settlement in Crook County.

The original cabin stood about 22 miles east of Prineville, along Upper Ochoco Creek on land owned by Hudspeth Land and Livestock. Built as a 1½-story home, it included a three-bedroom loft, two bedrooms on the main level, and a kitchen and dining area likely added later as the Wright family grew. Between 1879 and the early 1900s, it was home to the Wrights and their children—four of whom were born in the cabin with help from a nearby midwife, Mrs. Ida Blevins.

In 1960, Hudspeth Land and Livestock generously donated the structure for use as a museum. The cabin was carefully dismantled, with each log and beam numbered, transported into town, and reconstructed on site in Pioneer Park. It was reassembled as a one-story building for ease of access, and opened to the public on July 1, 1960—marking Prineville’s very first museum.

For over a decade, the Log Cabin Museum served as the cornerstone of Crook County’s historical preservation efforts, until the opening of the A.R. Bowman Museum in 1972. Today, it remains an integral part of the Bowman Museum’s operations, offering seasonal visitors a close-up view of pioneer craftsmanship, survival, and community on the high desert frontier.

From Memorial Day through Labor Day, step inside the Pioneer Log Cabin Museum to explore artifacts of daily life in the 19th century. Whether you’re drawn to old tools, hand-sewn garments, or simply the scent of aged pine logs, the cabin invites you to slow down and imagine what life might have felt like in those early days of Crook County.

Pioneer Historical Museum or Pioneer Cabin is owned by the City of Prineville, but maintained by the Historical Society and the Parks and Recreation Department.