At Plimouth Plantation, a living history museum in Plymouth, Massachusetts, historical experts recreate post and beam houses as they were originally built in the 1620's, when the first settlers created their community on Cape Cod. (Today, many people refer to these early arrivals in Plymouth as "Pilgrims.")
English settlers in the 1600's. The style spread throughout the country and variations of it are still popular.
HOW did they build them?
By creating a frame of post and beams, filling in the frame with wattle and daub (branches and a clay mixture), and thatching the roof. People worked together to build these houses. Some people who were craftsmen were paid for their work.
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WHAT did they use?
Nails, squared timbers from the local forests, daub (clay, mud, and straw mixture), wattle (flexible branches woven together), and thatch. All materials were found in the local area - except for nails which originally had to be imported from Britain.
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WHY did they use the post and beam style?
Because it was what they knew how to build, it was well-adapted to the environment, and all materials except for nails could be found right near by. While it took strength and craftsmanship to build these dwellings, it didn't take advanced expertise.
Visit Plimouth Plantation at www.pilgrims.net
See more images from Plimouth Plantation at http://libraries.mit.edu/rvc/kidder/MA55.html
