Corny Cabin

The Corny Cabin was designed and built specifically for Nebraska. Something Nebraskans can be proud of and tourists can stay to get a deeper understanding of this great state. The project began by asking locals a few questions “what does Nebraska mean to you?”, “what do you find special about Nebraska?” I assumed the majority of the responses would consist of farming and agriculture however, I would regularly hear things about the beauty of the sunsets, unique openness of the landscape, the night sky, simple lifestyle, and traditions, however, to my surprise the one single answer I heard the most was "the people". The sense of community, the desire to always help, and the love and the respect people have for each other. In 1863 Americans were given the opportunity to move west and get Free land as Part of the Homestead Act. This proved to be a brutal lifestyle and many failed, however, some persisted and found success. The successful relied on the people in their immediate family, community, and nearby farms for information, tools, and strength. Perhaps the helping hand mentality everyone gave and received for decades remains today. Maybe the best example of this is one of the most essential and iconic figures in Nebraska...The Barn. Often considered more important than the home it served many purposes from housing animals and feed (both essential to the farm) to hosting family gatherings and community events. Building a barn was no easy task either, the size, materials, knowledge, and physical labor required help from all people. It was the Barn for these reasons that shape the Corny Cabin.