Joaquin Miller Cabin
Encyclopedia
The Joaquin Miller Cabin is an historic structure situated in Washington, DC's Rock Creek Park
. Built by the American poet, essayist and fabulist Joaquin Miller
, it represents the only known example of late 19th century Rustic-style log cabin
in Washington, D.C.
It is a Classified Structure within Rock Creek Park
.
(1893–1913) moved to Washington, DC to get involved in politics. He built the cabin near the intersection of 16th and Belmont Streets, NW across from present day Meridian Hill/Malcolm X. Park
to find rustic peace and "find his muse". Miller is known to have occupied the cabin from 1883 to late 1885 when he left for California.
In 1911 the area near Meridian Hill Park was being developed and Henry White
, the former ambassador to France, was building an estate on land that included the cabin. The state of California and the Columbia Historical Society sought to save the structure from demolition and have it moved to Rock Creek Park
. The board of the National Park Service refused the request but Senator John D. Works
of California successfully intervened to force the Park Service to move the cabin to its present location near the east bank of Rock Creek one half mile north of Military Road.
In acquiescing to the public campaign to save the cabin the Board of Control for the Park insisted that they be allowed to use the cabin as a shelter and reserved the right to remove the cabin at any time. The cabin was initially used as a shelter and dedicated on June 2, 1912 with ceremonies featuring members of California's congressional delegation and Senator Weldon B. Heyburn
of Idaho.
In 1931 the cabin was leased to the poet's niece, Pherne Miller, who sold beverages and food and conducted art classes in the cabin until the mid-1950s.
and a rare log cabin structure in the Nation's Capital. The exterior of the L-shaped cabin was constructed of split logs and chinking with a fieldstone
fireplace at the center of the cabin. The cabin was painstakingly deconstructed and moved in 1911.
. In 1978 the series was held inside the cabin, until they outgrew the space. The readings are now held outdoors. The series has been documented in two anthologies of the participating poets, Whose Woods These Are and Cabin Fever: Poets at Miller's Cabin. Sample poems in the Miller Cabin series include The Three Laughers of Tiger Ravine by David Wolinsky.
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C. The park is administered by the National Park Service.-Rock Creek Park:The main section of the park contains , or , along the Rock Creek Valley...
. Built by the American poet, essayist and fabulist Joaquin Miller
Joaquin Miller
Joaquin Miller was the pen name of the colorful American poet Cincinnatus Heine Miller , nicknamed the "Poet of the Sierras".-Early years and family:...
, it represents the only known example of late 19th century Rustic-style log cabin
Log cabin
A log cabin is a house built from logs. It is a fairly simple type of log house. A distinction should be drawn between the traditional meanings of "log cabin" and "log house." Historically most "Log cabins" were a simple one- or 1½-story structures, somewhat impermanent, and less finished or less...
in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
It is a Classified Structure within Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C. The park is administered by the National Park Service.-Rock Creek Park:The main section of the park contains , or , along the Rock Creek Valley...
.
History
In 1883, Joaquin MillerJoaquin Miller
Joaquin Miller was the pen name of the colorful American poet Cincinnatus Heine Miller , nicknamed the "Poet of the Sierras".-Early years and family:...
(1893–1913) moved to Washington, DC to get involved in politics. He built the cabin near the intersection of 16th and Belmont Streets, NW across from present day Meridian Hill/Malcolm X. Park
Meridian Hill Park
Meridian Hill Park, is located in the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Columbia Heights in the United States. The 12 acres of landscaped grounds are maintained by the National Park Service as part of Rock Creek Park, but are not contiguous with the main part of that park...
to find rustic peace and "find his muse". Miller is known to have occupied the cabin from 1883 to late 1885 when he left for California.
In 1911 the area near Meridian Hill Park was being developed and Henry White
Henry White (diplomat)
Henry White was a prominent U.S. diplomat during the 1890s and 1900s, and one of the signers of the Treaty of Versailles....
, the former ambassador to France, was building an estate on land that included the cabin. The state of California and the Columbia Historical Society sought to save the structure from demolition and have it moved to Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park
Rock Creek Park is a large urban natural area with public park facilities that bisects Washington, D.C. The park is administered by the National Park Service.-Rock Creek Park:The main section of the park contains , or , along the Rock Creek Valley...
. The board of the National Park Service refused the request but Senator John D. Works
John D. Works
John Downey Works was a U.S. Senator representing California from 1911 to 1917.John Downey Works was born in Indiana and attended private schools there. As a young man he served in the American Civil War as a member of the Tenth Regiment of the Indiana Volunteer Cavalry...
of California successfully intervened to force the Park Service to move the cabin to its present location near the east bank of Rock Creek one half mile north of Military Road.
In acquiescing to the public campaign to save the cabin the Board of Control for the Park insisted that they be allowed to use the cabin as a shelter and reserved the right to remove the cabin at any time. The cabin was initially used as a shelter and dedicated on June 2, 1912 with ceremonies featuring members of California's congressional delegation and Senator Weldon B. Heyburn
Weldon B. Heyburn
Weldon Brinton Heyburn was a U.S. Senator from Idaho from 1903 1912. The city of Heyburn is named for him, as is Mount Heyburn.-Early life:...
of Idaho.
 Dedication of Miller Cabin, June 12, 1912 Library of Congress Library of Congress The Library of Congress is the research library of the United States Congress, de facto national library of the United States, and the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States. Located in three buildings in Washington, D.C., it is the largest library in the world by shelf space and... |
In 1931 the cabin was leased to the poet's niece, Pherne Miller, who sold beverages and food and conducted art classes in the cabin until the mid-1950s.
Architecture
The Joaquin Miller Cabin is an example of vernacular architectureVernacular architecture
Vernacular architecture is a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally available resources and traditions to address local needs and circumstances. Vernacular architecture tends to evolve over time to reflect the environmental, cultural and historical context in which it...
and a rare log cabin structure in the Nation's Capital. The exterior of the L-shaped cabin was constructed of split logs and chinking with a fieldstone
Fieldstone
Fieldstone is a building construction material. Strictly speaking, it is stone collected from the surface of fields where it occurs naturally...
fireplace at the center of the cabin. The cabin was painstakingly deconstructed and moved in 1911.
Miller Cabin Series
Since 1973 the cabin has played host to the oldest continuous reading series in Washington through the Miller Cabin Poetry Series run by nonprofit literary and educational organization Word WorksWord Works
Word Works is thirty-seven year old independent literary press based in Washington, DC. The press was founded in 1974 and has published 67 titles including works by Grace Cavalieri, Fred Marchant, Donna Denizé, Christopher Bursk, Frannie Lindsay, Jay Rogoff, and Enid Shomer...
. In 1978 the series was held inside the cabin, until they outgrew the space. The readings are now held outdoors. The series has been documented in two anthologies of the participating poets, Whose Woods These Are and Cabin Fever: Poets at Miller's Cabin. Sample poems in the Miller Cabin series include The Three Laughers of Tiger Ravine by David Wolinsky.
See also
- Joaquin Miller HouseJoaquin Miller HouseJoaquin Miller House, also known as The Abbey and The Hights, in Oakland, California, United States was the home of poet Joaquin Miller.-Joaquin Miller:...
- Oakland, California - Joaquin Miller Cabin essay at Beltway Poetry QuarterlyBeltway Poetry QuarterlyBeltway Poetry Quarterly is an English-language, online literary magazine based in Washington, DC.As its name suggests, it features poetry from the "Beltway" region of the Washington, DC area...
- Miller Cabin Poetry Series - Word WorksWord WorksWord Works is thirty-seven year old independent literary press based in Washington, DC. The press was founded in 1974 and has published 67 titles including works by Grace Cavalieri, Fred Marchant, Donna Denizé, Christopher Bursk, Frannie Lindsay, Jay Rogoff, and Enid Shomer...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in the District of Columbia