Like baseball, fireworks, and sweltering temperatures, the Adirondack chair is the epitome of an American summer. ⁽¹⁾ Famed for its simple wooden design, sloped back, and wide armrests, this chair is perfect perched around fire pits, by lakeside cabins, or anywhere in the great outdoors. ⁽²⁾

But before you kick back in one, you should know that there’s actually a whole lot more to the Adirondack chair than just a comfy place to put up your feet! ⁽²⁾

Here’s a brief overview of how the Adirondack chair came to be and why it’s considered a timeless summer classic. ⁽¹⁾

What is an Adirondack Chair? ⁽³⁾

The Adirondack chair is a distinctively styled outdoor chair characteristically made of wood. Originally made with a flat seat and back composed of 11 flat wooden boards, it featured wide armrests parallel to the ground. Today a concave back and contoured seat are the norm.

How is it built? ⁽⁴⁾

Constructed from an assembly of spaced wooden laths, the Adirondack chair is identifiable by two special features: its wide armrests and a back that slants at an angle. The chair was either left in its natural state or painted — often a redwood brown, chestnut, green, blue-grey or white.

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