Tucked away on the grounds of Peel Museum & Botanical Garden stands a remarkable piece of Arkansas history — the Andy Lynch Cabin, a preserved example of early Ozark settlement life.

Originally built in 1840 on a farm along Little Sugar Creek in nearby Brightwater, Arkansas, the cabin belonged to Andy Lynch, one of Benton County’s early settlers. For generations, the Lynch family called the cabin home, tending a vegetable garden, growing herbs, and raising livestock on the surrounding land. The family lived in the cabin until the late 1970s, preserving a way of life rooted in self-sufficiency.

A Gift from the Lynch Family

In 1993, Nuel Lynch, a descendant of the original owners, generously donated the cabin to the Peel Compton Foundation. Each timber was carefully marked, disassembled, and moved to the Peel Museum grounds in Bentonville, where it was meticulously reassembled.

Today, this restored cabin serves as the Peel Museum Store, welcoming guests and providing a tangible link to Northwest Arkansas’s pioneer past.

Ozark Craftsmanship

The cabin was constructed using native white oak, with each log split and shaped using a broadax. Some of the logs measured up to 16 feet in diameter. For insulation, early builders used a method called chinking — a mixture of clay, mud, bark, and horsehair packed into the spaces between logs to seal the home from the elements.

During the late 1800s, cabins like these were typically built as single rooms — known as “pens” — where families would cook, eat, and sleep together. To expand, a second pen was added, creating a “double pen” cabin, which was common in the Ozarks.

The Andy Lynch Cabin is a rare and unusually large example of this architectural style. It features two main rooms on the first floor and an upstairs loft used for sleeping and storage, accessible by a corner staircase.

A Living Example of Ozark Heritage

The cabin stands today not just as a building, but as a living exhibit — showcasing the craftsmanship, lifestyle, and resourcefulness of early Arkansas settlers.

Visit the Peel Museum Store

Stop by the Peel Museum Store, located inside the historic Andy Lynch Cabin, to shop unique gifts, learn more about Ozark architecture, and experience a piece of Arkansas history up close.