What were Northwest Coast Indian houses made from?

Northwest Coast Indian houses were rectilinear structures primarily constructed from timber and planks. While specific designs varied by region, these dwellings generally featured vertical plank walls and plank roofs.12

Key construction details included:

• Framework: Many groups, particularly in the Wakashan province, utilized a permanent framework of large cedar posts, side beams, and ridgepoles.12
• Portability: In several areas, the wall and roof planks were detachable, allowing them to be transported by canoe between different seasonal sites.12
• Regional Variations:
  • Northern regions: Houses were often built on a nearly square plan around a deep central pit.1
  • Columbia River: Dwellings were built over deep, plank-lined rectangular pits, with only the gabled roof visible above ground to provide insulation.1
  • Northwestern California: Houses were designed for single-family use, featuring low redwood plank walls and a three-pitch, pyramid-like roof built over a central pit.1