American Indians in the
Northwest
built longhouses.
The American Indians in the Northwest, particularly tribes such as the Tlingit, Haida, Kwakwaka'wakw, Coast Salish, and Chinook, built longhouses as their traditional dwellings. These longhouses were large, rectangular structures made of wood and usually covered with bark or cedar planks.
Longhouses were designed to accommodate extended families or several related families living together. They could be as long as 100 feet or more and were often built in areas near rivers or the coast, where these tribes thrived on fishing and other natural resources.
The framework of a longhouse was made from sturdy wooden poles with a gable roof. Walls were constructed by inserting planks vertically into a trench on the ground along the sides of the house. The roof was covered with bark or cedar planks, and smoke holes were left open in the roof to allow for ventilation and to let the smoke from the central fire escape.
Inside, the longhouse was divided into sections by cedar plank partitions. Each section was a separate living space for a family or multiple families. They had sleeping platforms along the sides and a central hearth for cooking and warmth. The longhouse also served as a place for social gatherings, ceremonies, and storytelling, showcasing the importance of community and kinship in Northwest Indigenous cultures.
Today, some tribes in the Northwest still build and utilize longhouses for cultural and ceremonial purposes. These structures continue to be seen as symbols of cultural identity and an important connection to their ancestral traditions.