Teepees

• Many Plains Indian tribes used teepees (or tipis or tepees) as their primary shelter. These conical structures were constructed of long poles that formed a circle and the structure was wrapped in buffalo hides. The door of the teepees faced east toward the rising sun, and three to four families typically lived in each shelter.
  
  

Transporting Teepees

• Plains Indians commonly traveled across the plains in search of buffalo, so their homes needed to come with them. When a tribe needed to move, they collapsed the teepee and carried it along with the rest of their belongings. The long poles needed to be transported with the tribes because there were not many tall trees growing in the plains. This type of structure was easy to build and could be taken down quickly if the buffalo herd moved.
  
  

Other Benefits

• Teepees could stay cool in warm summer months, but also kept warm in the winter. The structure allowed for a fire to burn in the center for heat and to cook. A hole could be kept open in the top of the teepee to allow smoke to escape. The outside of the teepees could also be decorated with religiously significant paintings.
  
  

Grass Huts

• In the southern plains, such as the region that is now Texas, tribes did not travel in search of buffalo and instead built dome-shaped huts covered with grass. These structures were sometimes 40 feet tall. Prairie grass was insufficient as an insulator to keep people warm in northern areas.