Johnson House, Yelm, Washington
historic place
The Johnson House, located in Yelm, Washington, in Thurston County, is a historic place. It was built in 1927 by Rudolf Johnson, who had arrived in the area from Denmark around 1905. The house is notable for its construction from native prairie cobblestones, a material that forms its load-bearing structural walls. It stands as one of only two cobblestone houses in Thurston County. The design, an American Foursquare style with Craftsman detailing, was created by Holger Jensen, Rudolf Johnson's brother. From 1940 to 1955, Rudolf Johnson operated a nudist club at the site, known as 'Cobblestone Suntanners' or 'Cobblestone Lodge'. He also published 'Sunshine Health Magazine' advocating nudism. The Johnson House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 23, 1988. Its historical significance lies in its unique architectural interpretation of the American Foursquare style using cobblestones.