Mather High School Students Learn the Intricacies of Reconstructing Late 1700s Style Log Cabins at Morristown National Historical Park and Governors Island National Monument

As the country gets ready to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026, what do New York City high school students know about the American Revolution? If they ever attended the Stephen T. Mather Building Arts and Craftsmanship High School, they could certainly tell you about the eight-year war for independence but could also explain in detail how to build a log cabin, including how to buck and shape logs with an axe. Bucking is the process of sawing or cutting logs into workable sizes.

For two winters during the American Revolution, including the coldest winter of the century, the Continental Army spent the season encamped at Morristown. Between 1779 and 1780, thousands of soldiers built log cabins for their winter housing. While none of the huts exist today, Morristown National Historical Park has five replica cabins that were built more than 60 years ago, and they need to be reconstructed. Enter Mather high school students.

These students have been learning the intricacies of building log cabins. Part of their experiential learning takes place at two National Park Service (NPS) sites: Morristown National Historical Park in New Jersey, and Governors Island National Monument in New York. So far, they have built one hut and will plan to build one more. The 14'x16’ soldier huts are built with 50 notched logs and a hand-split wood shingled roof. These huts are built by hand with tools like the ones used by the soldiers, and the work will continue through the summer months.

When asked about their experience visiting Morristown National Historical Park, many had shared that they had never seen a log cabin before. They also had not spent much time in nature. Junior Moses Thoby said, “I’ve learned being patient is one of the most important tools. If you’re not patient, and you move too quick, you might mess up. And one little mistake can mess up the whole project. Do not give up. Even when a task seems hard, you need to keep on going at it. As many times as it takes.”

Senior Wendy Luna shared that this project helped give her more confidence: “I was a shy kid... and then, once I started these opportunities, I broke out of my shell a little bit more. I started doing more public speaking. I started getting out of my comfort zone. People here make me want to try it out.” She also liked how the project takes place at the Jockey Hollow area of the park, a place she finds calming.

No matter the path youth may take after high school, be it further schooling or entering the workforce, Mather students walk away with technical practical skills and knowledge that will benefit their lives for years to come.

About the school: Mather High School, named after the first NPS director, is a Career and Technical Education (CTE) high school located in midtown Manhattan. Students from all five New York City boroughs are eligible to attend this public high school. Founded in partnership with NPS in 2013, the school is dedicated to preparing students for careers, college, and stewardship through hands-on explorations and trainings in the specialized building arts and landscape trades, focusing on high-quality craftsmanship and historic preservation.

Have a question about Youth or Young Adult Programs? Please e-mail us. Learn more about what we do. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and Instagram.