Mandan Villages along the Missouri

Earth Lodges along the Missouri

These villages were settled a couple of hundred years before 

Lewis and Clark arrived, but in disrepair by then. 

They have been re-created to show the life style in the 15-1700s

The Mandans (and other tribes) constructed these earth lodge houses 

30 to 60 feet in diameter.

(and, of course the women did all the work: cut down the trees, make the structure, cover with layers of willow branches, grass, and mud from the river)

There would be 75 houses in a circle around the religious center. Each one housed around 15 people.

These houses were wide enough to have their beds raised from the floor.

An upgrade from a teepee, but not portable.

The center of the village housed the symbol of their god

Lone Man.

He protected them and the village when the Great Flood happened.

According to the Mandan the Missouri River flowed backwards and Lone Man protected them all.

Here is Lone Man

The diorama of the village shows the typical number of earth lodges, the spiritual center of the village where they held their religious festivals 1-2 times per year (Hum I wonder if it was Christmas and Easter? Just Kidding!).

They did this to ask for favor for their hunting season.

There were 9 of these villages along the river.