Virginia City in Madison County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Kohl's/Little Joe's Cabin

This Property Contributes to the Virginia City Historic District

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

1. Kohl's/Little Joe's Cabin Marker

Inscription. Carpenter Julius Kohls purchased this property in 1882, where he built a one-room log cabin and a combination wood shed and outhouse. In contrast to most of the town’s 1860s-era gold-rush log buildings, Kohls’ cabin does not have hand-notched logs interlaced at the corners. Instead, he nailed the logs to vertical two-by-four-inch pieces of milled lumber. Hand notching and joining the corners together (like Lincoln Logs) creates a tighter, more stable structure, whereas nailing the logs takes less time and labor. The porch and rear addition were likely added in the early 1900s, when dredge mining renewed the economy, bringing jobs and men to the area. Kohls made wagons, wheels, and cabinets, and was a lumber dealer who lived within sight of this cabin in a then-modern wood-frame house on the north side of Wallace Street. This cabin was one of Kohls’ many rental properties; he likely leased it to unmarried men or women. Preservationist Charles Bovey purchased the cabin in the early 1950s and rented it to sheepherder “Little Joe” Shanizie until the early 1970s.

Erected by Montana Historical Society.

Topics and series.

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This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Montana National Register Sign Program series list.

Location. 45° 17.544′ N, 111° 56.953′ W. Marker is in Virginia City, Montana, in Madison County. It is on West Idaho Street near Nevada Street. Little Joe's Cabin is located south of the railroad depot, next to the railroad tracks. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Virginia City MT 59755, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Montana, in Gold West Country, in Mining Country and in Greater Bozeman.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Green Front Boarding House (within shouting distance of this marker); Alder Gulch Short Line Depot

Kohl's/Little Joe's Cabin and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

2. Kohl's/Little Joe's Cabin and Marker

(within shouting distance of this marker); Smith & Boyd Livery Stable (within shouting distance of this marker); Fight of the Century and Flour Riots (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); J.F. Stoer Saloon (about 300 feet away); Virginia City National Historic Landmark District (about 400 feet away); Dance and Stuart Store (about 400 feet away); Sauerbier Blacksmith Shop (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Virginia City.

Kohl's/Little Joe's Cabin image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 5, 2022

3. Kohl's/Little Joe's Cabin

Credits. This page was last revised on September 18, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 154 times since then and 9 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 18, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.