Using Animal Hides:
* Clothing and Bedding: Animal hides were a crucial source of warmth and protection. They were used to make clothing, blankets, and bedding.
* Temporary Shelters: In extreme circumstances, pioneers might use hides to create temporary shelters like tipis or lean-tos. However, these wouldn't be permanent dwellings.
* Tent Canvases: Some pioneers used stretched hides as a type of canvas for their tents.
Building Homes:
* Logs, Sod, and Brick: The most common materials for pioneer homes were logs, sod (earth), and brick. These offered more stability and durability than hides alone.
* Insulation: Animal hides might have been used as insulation within log cabins or other structures. They would be placed between the logs and the interior walls to help keep the heat in during winter.
Exceptions:
* Native American Homes: Some Native American groups, like the Plains tribes, traditionally used animal hides (especially buffalo hides) to construct their homes, like tipis.
In Summary: While pioneers did use animal hides extensively, they weren't the primary building material for their homes. The harsh conditions of frontier life demanded more robust and long-lasting structures.