Prairie Dugout House
This 1845 dugout home was dug into the lee side of a hill and required very little in the way of lumber.
The dugout house is one of the earliest types of shelters known to man, and around the world many are still in use today. In the United States, dugouts were most commonly used on the prairies where lumber may not have been readily available and folks were looking for a quick, safe and warm shelter from the elements. This particular dugout near Chadron, Nebraska, known as the Bordeaux Trading Post, was originally built in 1845. Typically, dugouts were dug into the lee side of a hill and required very little in the way of lumber. Sometimes the exposed front would be made of sod if wood was not available. These houses offered excellent protection from severe heat and cold, but were often dark and damp. They were primitive but effective shelters that were usually temporary until a more comfortable house could be built. Even today, dugouts, or berm houses are seen as low cost and energy efficient alternatives to more typical houses with larger environmental and physical footprints.
Fine Homebuilding Recommended Products
Fine Homebuilding receives a commission for items purchased through links on this site, including Amazon Associates and other affiliate advertising programs.
Graphic Guide to Frame Construction
The New Carbon Architecture: Building to Cool the Climate
A House Needs to Breathe...Or Does It?: An Introduction to Building Science
View Comments
Historical structures do teach us a lot on the living conditions of the people in the past. Some are still existing in today's modern era and the stories that they hold dearly are very interesting that teach us so many new info as we go by.