Transcript Museum Entrance - Christy Keeler's Homepage

Museum
of Native
American
Dwellings
Museum
Curator
Northeast
Welcome
to the
Museum
of Native
American
Dwellings
Exit
Northwest
Plains
Southwest
Present Day
Northeast Dwellings
To
Entrance
Museum Entrance
To Entrance
Northwest Dwellings
Room 3
Plains Dwellings
Room 4
Entrance
To
Entrance
Southwest Dwellings
Room 2
Present Day
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Entrance
Room 2
Northeast Longhouse
Longhouses were designed to hold a number of
families who lived communally. Each families
had separate fires and sleeping areas. Inside a
crackling fire would be vented with holes in the
ceiling to allow smoke to escape. A typical
longhouse would be approximately 50 feet long.
When researching this particular style of Native
dwelling I came across a great teacher resource.
The following URL leads to a page on
constructing a longhouse in the classroom.
http://www.scott.k12.va.us/martha2/longhouseactivity.
htm
Image acquired at:
http://www.scott.k12.va.us/martha2/longhouses.htm
I have included this style home because it was found
throughout the Northeast region of Native settlements.
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Typical Longhouse Style Village
In large Native American villages of the
Northeast longhouses were often found in rows.
Much like our communities of today. These
communities were surrounded by a fence to keep
out unwanted guests and predators. These
housing styles not only protected the peoples of a
village but also protected crops. Villages were
often moved according to the fertility of the lands
around them. One longhouse often held up to
several hundred people. These homes were
especially popular with the Iroquois in New York
and Ontario.
I have included this picture to show the sense
and style of community living various tribes
have used since the prehistoric times.
Image acquired at:
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/settlements
/regions/northeast.html
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Northeastern Wigwam
The Wampanoag and other tribes of the
Northeast constructed wigwams as shelter for
their families and tribes. The curved structure
helps to protect against harsh weather. The
structures are made out of bent branches, the
sides and roofs were often covered with stripped
bark from trees. Inside the home planks are laid
on the floor which are covered with pelts for
comfort. The curved structure made the home as
safe and warm as a colonial style home.
I have included this structure in my museum
because vast numbers of tribes used this style
structure both in pre and post colonial times.
Image acquired at:
http://www.mayflowerhistory.com/History/indians5.php
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Plimoth Plantation
I have included this depiction because I think it is
a wonderful teaching tool. The dwelling is part
of a virtual tour of what it is believed to have
been like in Plymouth in 1627.
This dwelling was typical of a home of Plymouth
area Natives. It is constructed using long grasses.
The long grasses helped to keep warmth in
during the bitter winters of the Northeast region.
It was used by the Wampanoag Natives.
Image acquired at:
http://gonewengland.about.com/library/blplimoth9.htm
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Southwest Pueblo
In the southwest many Native Americans
constructed pueblos as dwellings for their tribes.
These structures were made from a mixture of
baked clay and straw called adobe. These
dwellings were perhaps the most permanent of
any Native dwellings found in America. One
single dwelling could house hundreds of people.
Many of the prehistoric examples of these
dwellings are studied by archeologists.
I have included this dwelling in my collection
because it is one of the oldest known forms of
dwellings present in America.
Image acquired at:
http://www.culturecorner.org/Nov-19-05.html
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Anasazi Ruins
The Anasazi were often found in the cliff areas of
the Southwest United States. The picture shown
is of ruins discovered in the southwest corner of
what is now known as Colorado. These ruins
often date back to before the thirteenth century.
Many tribes of the southwest built structures
similar to this to help keep out the intense heat of
the region. The dwellings were made of sun
baked clay.
Although many of the tribes of the southwest
disappeared before the settlers arrived, they are a
very important part to our country’s history.
Image acquired at:
http://www.desertusa.com/ind1/ind_new/ind21.html
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Cliff Dwellers
Cliff dwellings were formed by cutting niches
into niches or caves in high places. These
dwellings can be found throughout the cliff areas
of the southwest. The dwellings which have
been discovered are sometimes as high as
thousands of feet. The dwellings contain dozens
and sometimes hundreds of rooms.
Cliff dweller tribes were a important part of the
history of the southwest. Used by various tribes
as homes throughout history. Many of these
dwellings have now become tourist attractions.
Image acquired at:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliff_dwelling
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Building of Pueblos
I have included this wonderful depiction of
creation of a pueblo in my gallery as part of the
historical importance of contributions the Native
Americans made to modern society. The Anasazi
and Pueblo natives used masonry to create their
dwellings.
These dwellings were built into cliffs, utilizing
the tops of caves as roofs. Doorways were
carved out to allow relations to access other
families within the complex. Wooden or bone
ladders were used to reach upper and lower
levels. Ceremonial chambers were reached in the
same way. A complex network of homes made
up a urban style dwelling much like our
dwellings in the present time.
Image acquired at:
http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/prehistory/settlements/r
egions/southwest.html
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Chinook Winter Lodge
The depiction shown is of a Chinook winter
lodge located in Oregon. These shelters were
used during the winter months on the river
banks. The houses were built from cedar planks
and were 20-50 in length. The interesting thing
about these lodges was the fact that they were
built over excavation holes as to keep the lodges
as warm as possible in the cold Northwest
winters. The lodges were partitioned to hold
many families. Tule mats were used for sleeping.
I have included this in my collection to show the
struggles and victories the Natives had to endure
in different regions.
Image acquired at:
http://www.ohs.org/education/oregonhistory/historical_recor
ds/dspDocument.cfm?doc_ID=A8B9F4B2-FC2E-234FD15D645E0D0AD979
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Northwest Native Lodge
Used in the cold Northwest climate, Native
homes began to take on the appearance of
Europeans settler lodges. These homes were well
constructed to keep out the bitter winter weather.
Some were made in a large rectangular shape to
house many families, while examples such as the
one shown were made for the leader’s family.
The posts of these homes were often carved with
Native scenes. Large totem poles could also be
found in front of the dwellings.
I included this depiction to show the change that
Native housing began to go through after the
Europeans arrived and influenced their culture.
Image acquired at:
http://www.mce.k12tn.net/indians/teaching/reading.htm
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Open Dwelling
In the cold Northwest winters some dwellings
did little to protect. This picture depicts a older
Native woman and child who looks like they are
struggling to find shelter. This dwelling may
have been found in North California. The open
dwelling shown does little to protect its
inhabitants.
I have included this picture to show the struggle
against the elements the Natives had to survive.
Image acquired at:
http://www.gutenberg.org/files/14881/14881-h/14881-h.htm
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Pomo Indian Diorama
I included this picture of a diorama to show the
everyday life in a Pomo Indian village. It also
depicts the style of housing found in the area.
This diorama portrays typical life in a village.
The young woman sits and weaves a basket
while the young man gets his fish trap ready.
This scene is believed to be typical of the Pomo
Indians 1500 years ago. I also notice that the
dwelling behind did not change much in the over
1000 year period up to the European arrival.
Image acquired at:
http://www.websandsuch.com/clspia/interpretivecenter.h
tm
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Comanche Camp
This painting by George Catlin was done in 1834.
This painting depicts a typical Comanche village
of the time. The teepee style dwellings were
typical of the area. The teepee was built tall with
an opening in the top for smoke to escape.
Teepees were often shown with designs
indicative of the tribe they were used by.
I included this painting because I love the way
the Natives are shown intermingling in everyday
life.
Image acquired at:
http://www.greatdreams.com/native/nativehsg.htm
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Plains Teepees
Throughout the Plains area teepees were the
preferred home of Native Americans. Most of
these dwellings were made using deer, elk and
buffalo skins. Wooden poles were used to
support the structures. After the Europeans
arrived many teepees were constructed using
canvas material instead of the much sought after
animal skins.
I have included this in my Museum because it is
the most recognizable of all Native dwelling of
the time.
Image acquired at:
http://www.hud.gov/local/shared/working/r10/nwonap/longh
ouse.cfm?state=wa
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Wichita Grass Lodge
I found this diorama of a grass lodge in a great
teacher resource page for Kansas teachers. I
thought it would lend nicely to the Plains
dwellings in my museum.
These homes were found throughout the Plains
area, but mostly in Kansas. They were homes to
the Wichita Natives. These dwellings were made
from the tall grasses found throughout the area.
Image acquired at:
http://www.kshs.org/teachers/tours/plains_indian_homes.ht
m
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Native Plains Village
This depiction is of a Plains Native camp. The
depiction shows the change that the introduction
of the horse might have made to the Comanche
tribe. No longer did they have to hunt on foot.
Life in the tribes became a little simpler.
This painting was done by Nola Davis. I have
included it in my collection because the village
was typical of the area during the arrival of the
Europeans.
Image acquired at:
http://www.texasbeyondhistory.net/forts/griffin/images/c
lash.html
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Idaho Reservation
Probably one of the biggest travesties of modern
time is the way that we have come to treat the
native Americans hundreds of years after the
Europeans came.
I have included these pictures in this room to
show the vast injustice I believe came about with
the creation of Indian Reservations throughout
the U.S.A.
Image acquired at:
http://www.chss.iup.edu/kpatrick/Cartomb.shtml
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Navajo Reservation
This reservation found in Arizona depicts the
horrid living conditions of modern day Native
Americans. This is the travesty that began
hundreds of years ago with the settling of the
Europeans.
Image acquired at:
http://www.bized.co.uk/educators/1619/economics/development/lesson/sup_povertyphotos.ht
m
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Tulalip Reservation
This home found in the Tulalip reservation is
typical of the housing in 1916. Located in the
state of Washington it is home to 9,500 Native
Americans still.
Image acquired at:
http://www.answers.com/topic/tulalip?cat=technology
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San Diego Reservation
Located in the beautiful countryside of san Diego
county is a reservation created to house Native
Americans. Again you can see the squalor that
the first inhabitants of our great land live in
today.
Image acquired at:
http://www.sandiegohistory.org/journal/75fall/clevelandi
mages.htm
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Native American Map
Europeans first landing in the Americas had no
idea that the country was home to so many
native peoples. The tribes of Native Americans
spread from coast to coast. The invasion upon
the Natives lands would cause bloodshed,
disease and upheaval.
I have included this map in my museum to help
my gallery viewers to differentiate between the
regions and tribes highlighted within these walls.
I also believe it is important for students of
Native American history to realize the vast
numbers of tribes that were settled before the
Europeans began to attribute to their decline.
With that said I hope you enjoy the collection I
have compiled of the settlements and housing
styles of these various tribes.
Image acquired at:
http://www.evgschool.org/The%20Indians%20of%20the
%20New%20World.htm
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Suzanne Hill
The Idea of becoming a teacher came to me about a
year ago. My Fiancée believes it was a mid-life crisis,
I think it was an awakening. Either way it was the
best decision I ever made. I love being a teacher and
wouldn’t trade it for the world.
Although history was always my least favorite
subject in school, I find now it is my favorite of all. I
love to bring life to history inside my fourth grade
classroom. Unfortunately right now I am in a
Reading First school which makes it very hard to find
time to teach the History I have come to love. I do
find ways, through read aloud time and writing
activities to incorporate it into my curriculum.
I love new ideas for teaching and appreciate any
advice from more experienced teachers. Please
contact me anytime with your input.
[email protected]
Note: Virtual museums were first introduced by educators at Keith Valley Middle School in Horsham,
Pennsylvania. This template was designed by Dr. Christy Keeler based on one of the sample virtual museums
provided by the Keith Valley staff at ISTE’s NECC 2005. Contact Dr. Keeler for more information on using
this template.
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