Theophile Bruguier Cabin

The Theophile Bruguier Cabin is a single-room wooden structure from 1860 located in Riverside Park in Sioux City, Iowa. The building features hand-hewn cottonwood beams joined with dovetail joints, displaying construction methods typical of frontier settlers.

The cabin was built by Theophile Bruguier, a French-Canadian fur trader who married two daughters of Yankton Sioux Chief War Eagle. In the 1930s, workers from the Civil Works Administration uncovered and relocated the structure to its current location after finding it concealed beneath wooden cladding.

The cabin reflects the bonds between French-Canadian traders and Yankton Sioux families during early Sioux City. The hand-cut timber construction demonstrates the practical skills that defined frontier life in this region.

The cabin is situated in the public Riverside Park and is easily accessible to visitors exploring the area. It is maintained by a local organization and available to visit during certain seasons when educational activities are offered.

The structure lay hidden under modern wooden cladding for decades before being rediscovered in the 1930s. Workers completely dismantled and reassembled it piece by piece in Riverside Park, making its relocation a preservation effort rather than simple restoration.

Location: Iowa

GPS coordinates: 42.49667,-96.47519

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:41