A Rustic Vision of Texas Parks, 1935
Furnishing a park
From 1933 until 1942, men of the Civilian Conservation Corps constructed or improved 29 of Texas’ state parks. They built roads, dams and cabins. They also built furniture, like this table.
CCC artisans created this table from native cedar driftwood at Palo Duro Canyon State Park in January 1935. Park visitors ate at this table in one of the CCC-built cabins.
Natural harmony
National Park Service architects and artists created plans for the state parks structures and furnishings. Their designs acted in harmony with nature. This became the “NPS Rustic” style.
Plans called for using local materials (including cedar and adobe in Texas), rough cuts of wood and stone, and regional artistic designs.
At Palo Duro Canyon, that style dictated making furniture from cedar driftwood that artisans found in the park.
The result: a beautiful table that fit perfectly with its surroundings. Look for it on display in the park’s Visitor Center.
