One of the most prevalent misconceptions about the architecture of Native Americans is that they all lived in teepees or wigwams. In Thatched Roofs and Open Sides, Carrie Dilley reveals the design, construction, history, and cultural significance of the chickee, the unique Seminole structure made of palmetto and cypress.

The naturalist-explorer William Bartram first sighted chickees when he penetrated Florida’s dense tropical forests. During the Seminole Wars, the thatched roof platforms served as hideouts and shelters. In the twentieth century, the government and charitable organizations deemed the abodes
primitive
and
unfit,
and, rather than move into non-chickee housing, the Seminoles began to modernize them. Today, chickees can still be found throughout tribal land, but they are no longer primary residences. Instead, they are built to teach people about Seminole life and history and to encourage tribal youth to reflect on that aspect of their culture.

Dilley interviews builders and surveys over five hundred chickees on the Big Cypress Indian Reservation, illustrating how the multipurpose structure has evolved over time to meet the changing needs of the Seminole Tribe.