Featured Projects
Murdock Log Cabin Restoration – Berrien Springs, Michigan
Year Built: 1830
Year Repaired: 1993
Repair(s) Completed: Log Repair
Our work on the Murdock House was featured in Muir’s Original Log Structures Restoration Guide for Builders and Buyers in 1993, in the article titled “Replication: More Than Restoration.” This recognition highlights the importance of precise, skilled work in both preserving and reproducing original log construction techniques.
Whether it’s log cabin repair, log restoration, or the full reconstruction of a historic log home, American Log Restoration brings unmatched experience and integrity to every project. We’re proud that over 30 years later, the techniques we used on the Murdock House remain at the core of the high-quality work we perform today.
At American Log Restoration, we’ve had the privilege of restoring hundreds of log buildings across the country—but few projects are as historically significant as the Murdock House in Berrien Springs, Michigan. Built in 1830, the Murdock Log Cabin is recognized as the oldest surviving log building in the state of Michigan, making it a landmark of early American frontier architecture.
Originally constructed with hand-hewn, dovetail-notched logs, the Murdock House was scheduled for demolition in the late 20th century. When the historical value of the structure was rediscovered, our team was brought in to perform a full log cabin restoration, preserving as much of the original craftsmanship as possible while replacing and replicating key structural elements.
To maintain authenticity, we used many of the same traditional tools and techniques as the original builders. Our skilled craftsmen carefully replicated the dovetail corner joinery, hand-hewn log surfaces, and historic detailing that defined early Michigan log construction. The result was a faithful log home restoration that now serves as a museum-quality exhibit—a living piece of Michigan’s past.