Architecture
Colonial American Architecture
This log cabin was built by Swedish immigrants around 1640.
The first buildings in Colonial America that influenced architecture for years to come consisted of houses with steep roofs and large chimneys in the middle of the house. There are also several different distinct areas in the United States that have different architecture styles based on the European settlers that first built there. Even to this day, the regional distinctions can be identified throughout the cities. For example, in New York the English settlers that first established their settlements near the area built their houses out of wood. Along the Hudson River, many Dutch settled there and their architecture was much different. They built their settlements and houses with bricks and stone, more like the construction styles in their homeland of Holland. The most popular building style, log cabins, most closely linked to the western settlers was also created during the Colonial American era. It was established near the lower parts of the Delaware River by Swedish immigrants.
Native American Architecture
Example of a Iroquois nation longhouse
There were many different tribes living in America that were near the settlements of the colonists. Almost each nation had a different building style to suit their type of lifestyle and climate. Some tribes were based on agriculture with houses built to remain in one place. Other tribes were more nomadic and moved from place to place. This required for their houses to be built quickly and easily as they moved. One of the biggest native tribes living near the colonists were the Iroquois. They built a more permanent settlement of houses that could house up to 60 people. They were long and narrow built with a second story for sleeping. This is just one of the many different types of Native American architecture during the colonial times.