Westport Chair

The Westport chair—sleek, modern, and effortlessly comfortable with a perfectly angled seat—stands as the original predecessor to the iconic Adirondack chair. First crafted by Thomas Lee between 1900 and 1903 in Westport, New York, nestled in the heart of Adirondack Park, the chair was designed with both form and function in mind. Seeking the ideal outdoor seat, Lee created a design that balanced simplicity with ergonomic comfort.

However, it was Lee’s friend, Harry C. Bunnell, who patented the design, making slight modifications to better serve convalescents. The chair quickly gained popularity in nearby tuberculosis sanatoriums, where its wide armrests were praised for helping open the chest and support recovery. Unlike today’s Adirondack chair, the original Westport version featured a single plank back. The now-familiar fan-shaped back with slats wasn’t introduced until 1938, when it was patented by Irving Wolpin.