Sod House on the Old Prairie

Many pioneers built their houses out of sod on the prairie. The sod squares, cut from the soil, had long grass roots in them and thus were tough yet flexible. Not only were the walls constructed of sod, but most roofs as well, which sometimes led to wet bedding and clothes after a heavy rain. Only a minimal amount of lumber was needed, for a door and one or more windows. The sod homes proved to be cool in the hot summer and warm in the winter. Some whitewashed the interiors to lighten them up and also covered the outside to protect it from the weather which was hard on such structures. Many added wooden lean-tos to their sod houses as entry ways or as additional rooms. As soon as a farm family could afford it, they purchased lumber to build a frame house, thus leaving behind a part of the pioneer era.