Chinook Homes

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The Chinook pople built large plankhouses out of cedar wood. The size of the structure depended on the wealth of the family that built it, or, the number of families that inhabited it. Some could be as large as 40 feet wide and 100 feet long. Each family that lived in a plankhouse occupied a specific part. Mats hung from the rafters acted as makeshift walls and separated the house into different living spaces. At the center of the plankhouse was a fireplace, where all of the inhabitants gathered to eat and socialize. Sleeping platforms were erected along the walls and food was hung from the rafters to dry.