Sod houses were once common in the U.S. Great Plains.
When the United States began spreading its civilization to the western frontier in the 19th century, it inspired architects to create new styles of homes reflecting this period. Prairie homes range from the Prairie-style designs of well-known architect Frank Lloyd Wright to the simplistic construction of sod houses for prairie farmers. Some prairie homes were also built in the city neighborhoods, such as the "Prairie Box" American Foursquare homes.
Prairie-Style
This style of housing was also known as "organic architecture," since all the exterior color schemes were nature based, such as brown, off-white and dark green. Famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed this housing style in the late 19th century and these homes were primarily built in rural and urban areas throughout the Midwest. One of the primary features of Prairie-style homes was its clerestory (pronounced "clear story") windows. These windows were at the top of high interior walls and usually had narrow panes overlooking the top of the house's roof. Other characteristics of Prairie-style homes include low-pitched roofs, stained glass windows, overhanging eaves and the open floor plan in the house's interior. If a Prairie-style house had a chimney, it was usually placed in the middle of the house.
American Foursquare
The American Foursquare house, also known as the "Prairie Box," was conceived in the 1890s as a rural alternative to more ornate houses from the 19th century, such as Colonial Revival and Victorian homes. These houses are also found in neighborhoods of towns throughout the Midwest. This type of home's chief characteristic was its square-box design. Most American Foursquare homes are two stories and each floor had four boxy rooms. The house's exterior usually had brick walls and an elevated front porch, which was long as the front side of the house. The porch has a wide set of stairs connecting the porch to the ground. On top of its roof, the American foursquare house has a dormer window, or a window set into the roof's slope. This type of home also had a basement with the same dimensions as the top two levels.
Sod Houses
Sod houses were a common type of home for farmers in rural areas during the 19th century. Also known as a "soddy," the term "sod house" derives from the sod used for the house's walls and roof. Sod was used since families on the prairie did not have access to large amounts of timber, which were used to construct log cabins. These type of houses were usually small and only had one level. The outer walls had stucco or wood panels for protection, while the interior walls were lined with plaster or canvas material. Sod houses were the most common type of housing connected to the U.S. Homestead Act, a legislation that promised free prairie farmland for families who cultivated it for at least five years. These houses were prone to insect infestation and dirt; thus, sod house designs were abandoned once alternative building materials, such as brick and mortar, became readily available.
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