A Log House in the Woods of Antebellum North Carolina

Two people stand talking in front of a log cabin surrounded by pine trees. Pigs roam freely in the yard where two children are playing. A pelt hangs on the wall of the cabin. Another person, possibly a slave, is working in the woods nearby. Illustration by Fredrick Law Olmsted (1822-1903). From his book, A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States; With Remarks on Their Economy. 

Olmstead was a famous landscape architect and antebellum traveler. Olmstead traveled South in 1852. In his book Olmstead discusses the low quality and number of roads and travel accommodations in the area. In general he is happy with Raleigh and its architecture and evergreens. Olmstead also talks about the turpentine and rosin production, naval stores, tobacco and tar industries. Olmstead was also concerned with the lack of urbanization, manufacutring, and agriculutural diversity in the South. He also concluded that slavery was damaging towards Southern economy and social growth. 

Michael Sistrom. "Frendrick Law Olmsted, 1822-1903): A Journey in the Seaboard Slave States; With Remarks on Their Economy. Documenting the American South. University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. https://docsouth.unc.edu/nc/olmsted/summary.html . Accessed November 1 2018.