Jump to Navigation

Kansas State Capitol - Online tour - Building a Sod House

Building a Sod House by David OvermyerFirst floor

Building a Sod House by David H. Overmyer, first floor rotunda, southwest corner

Sod houses were built of local materials. Native grasses and their roots held the dirt together and they were cut into rectangles to be used as building blocks. Sod houses had to be rebuilt or abandoned periodically because of water damage and infestation by vermin. Most settlers lived in them long enough to gather resources to build frame dwellings.