2022 Steiner Cabin Tour / Henry Steiner Background  

Henry Steiner: Quintessential Northwestern Builder

When Henry Steiner, a craftsman who emigrated from Germany, began making his signature cabins, his intent was to create functional and economically assembled homes, not idyllic cottages that seem to come right out of a fairy tale. However, that’s exactly what happened. His cabins –many of which are dotted around the Mt. Hood area— are precisely what one might imagine if asked to think of how that storybook “cozy little cabin in the woods” might appear. Over the years, Steiner’s sons, Fred and John, began helping their father with construction of the cabins.

Steiner is famous for using the native materials found onsite or locally for his cabins –sometimes used in very unique ways. Signature aspects of most Steiner Cabins include a “wagon wheel” or “sunburst” gable, a basalt rock fireplace, arc-shaped front door made of a split curved tree, gnarled tree root used for a front door handle, and unique log beams supporting the gabled porch roof.

Henry and family built over 100 cabins and churches during the years 1927 – 1952.  Most of the structures are between Government Camp and Sandy on the south side of Mount Hood.  A cluster of thirty cabins are located in the village of Rhododendron. 

Henry Steiner is considered a master of the Oregon Rustic style and the tour is designed to acquaint visitors with both this native Northwest design as well as to offer a chance to tour wooded cabins ostensibly straight out of a storybook.