What is an Indian tepee?

A Native American tepee is a mobile shelter that allowed tribes to take their homes with them when they moved. Traditionally made by hand using wood and animal skins or thick cloth, the tepee needed to be strong enough to offer protection and light enough to be disassembled.

A tepee's size depended on the number of family members traveling together. Its construction required about 10 to 15 wooden poles. Animal skin, used for the sides of the tepee, offered the best protection from the weather. The tepee had an opening in the center of the top to allow fumes and smoke from cooking to escape.