The Longhouse

A longhouse is a large, rectangular wooden structure historically used by Indigenous peoples, such as the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois). Designed to house multiple families, it often stretched over many meters and had a central fire pit for cooking and heating. The longhouse's construction used wooden poles and bark or plank walls, allowing for communal living and social organization. It was both a home and a cultural symbol, representing family ties and community unity. The design and layout facilitated cooperation and shared resources, reflecting the social and political structures of the communities that built them.