Mud Lodge (Winter Home) courtesy Missoury Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library

Though teepees often represent Native Americans’ homes, they are merely a stereotype. Native American housing actually reflected the land and climate in which various peoples lived, their lifestyles, and the building material available. Earthen lodges (hogans, sod houses) were advantageous in harsh climates because the earth would protect families from severe weather. They were also a good choice in areas without thick trees.

Some tribes established camps that could be quickly dismantled and moved; they relied on structures like teepees and wickiups. Nations that settled in one spot, however, could build sturdier, more permanent structures. The Pueblo Indians in the desert southwest took advantage of easily procured mud and straw to build thick adobe complexes that were meant to last for years.

Sac and Fox Bark House, circa 1885, Missouri Valley Special Collections, Kansas City Public Library

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