History of the Adirondack Chair

by: Joshua Brown

Thomas Lee designed the first Adirondack Chair in 1903. He was on vacation in Westport, NY and he needed outdoor chairs for his summer home. He tested the first designs on his family.

The original Adirondack Chair was made with eleven pieces of wood, cut from a single board. It had a straight back and seat, which were set at a slant to sit better on the steep mountain inclines of the area. It also featured wide armrests which became a hallmark of the Adirondack Chair.

The Adirondack Chair might have stayed in Lee's back yard, except for his friend Harry Bunnell. Bunnell had a small carpentry shop and needed a source of winter income. He used Lee's idea and started to create the chairs.

In 1905, Bunnell received a patent for the "Westport Chair". For the next twenty years, Bunnell produced these chairs. All of his "Westports" were signed, made out of Hemlock and painted green or dark brown.

The Adirondack Chair has changed over the years, while maintaining the same style and comfort. Today's Adirondack Chairs usually feature a rounded back and contoured seat. The style has also been translated to other pieces of furniture, anything from Gliders to Love Seats. Modern Adirondack chairs can also be made of many materials from cedar to recycled plastic.

About The Author

Joshua Brown is the webmaster at Millcraft Outdoor Furniture.

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