Born of a Vision, Raised in a Log Cabin

Our hewn-log headquarters were constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corp in 1940 to honor the 50th anniversary of Idaho’s statehood. It first served as the offices for the State Forestry Department and the Soil Conservation Corp until 1990. The City of Boise acquired it in 1992 but, not knowing what to do with the site, it was slated for possible demolition. However, a group of local writers emerged to reimagine the building as a gathering place for Boise’s readers and writers. They agreed to renovate and preserve the historical structure in exchange for a 30-year lease and thus, The Cabin was born.

Today, The Cabin serves as an anchor of literary arts in our state, serving as the only nonprofit organization in Idaho devoted entirely to arts and educational activities that celebrate reading and writing. Our workshops, lectures, readings, camps, publications, and other programs fulfill our vision to incubate experiences that promote the power of literature.