Native American Dwellings

A Virtual Field TripCreated by Mrs. Gillispie

3rd grade

Let’s Go! Hundreds of years ago, America’s first

people lived in a variety of dwellings. Dwellings were different depending on

where the people lived. Let’s begin our trip by taking a look at a

map that shows where the different tribes were located.

Wigwams Arched poles covered with

bark and brush mats. Permanent and more

solidly built form of a wickiup.

Used by Algonquian, Great Lakes, Ojibway, Delaware, Powhatan, Massachuset and Cree tribes.

Click on the picture to the left and watch a wigwam being built!

Longhouses Elongation of the wigwam. Wooden frame with bark

sewn together for cover. Many families shared the

longhouse. Used by Iroquois tribes

such as Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca and Tuscarora.

Let’s click on the picture to the left and watch a video clip about the Longhouse.

Chickees Palmetto thatch over a

bald cypress log frame. Open-sided for

circulation. Used by South Eastern

tribes such as the Seminoles.

TeePee Long wooden poles form

the frame. Animal skins cover the

frame. Usually have paintings. Lived in by Plains tribes

such as Sauk & Fox, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Sioux, Blackfeet, Comanche and Pawnee.

Wickiup Arched wooden poles

covered with brush and mat.

Temporary form of wigwam.

Used for a short time while hunting.

Apache tribe used these types of dwellings.

Pueblo Apartment style Made of adobe, clay and

dried vegetables. More rooms could be added

on top when needed. Used by Zuni, Hopi and the

Rio Grande Pueblo tribes. Click on the picture to the left

to learn more about the pueblo!

Hogans Partially imbedded into

the earth. Resemble grass huts

with a more tunnel-like opening.

The Navajo people favored the Hogans.

Bark/Grass Huts Wood poles covered

with grass and/or bark mats.

Used by California and Intermountain seed gatherers such as the Pomo.

Plank Large cedar logs were

used for a rectangular frame.

Hand split cedar formed the walls and roof.

These dwellings were often located on beaches.

Built by NW coastal tribes such as the Tlinget, Chicook and Makah.

Igloos Domed houses built of

snow blocks. Tunnel entrances to trap

heat inside. Inner walls were lined

with seal skin. The Inuits of the Arctic

region lived in igloos. Click on the black box to

see an igloo being made!

Quiz What type of logs were used

to build Plank houses? Which type of dwelling was

partially imbedded into the earth?

What type of dwelling would you build if you were an Apache out hunting?

Which dwelling was apartment style and could be added on to?