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RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
  DAKOTA BARKLODGE
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During the summer, the Dakota lived in villages of bark lodges.  Benches around the inside of the lodge provided space for sitting and sleeping, and allowed extended families to share the same lodge.    

Each lodge consisted of a frame built of ironwood lashed together with basswood fibers.  On top of the frame, the Dakota overlapped sheets of ash or elm bark.  An opening in the roof allowed smoke from a central fire to escape.  The door usually consisted of a deerskin hanging in the entry. 

 


Dakota women owned the bark lodges.  They built the structure with the exception of the roof, which was considered man’s work. Men usually took the heavy bark off the trees and hauled it to the village for construction.  Following the winter and spring seasons away from the village, there were always repairs to be made to the lodge. 

Throughout the summer season the Dakota grew crop gardens, collected wild fruits and fished. The men would also hunt for deer, elk and bison. Many Dakota would also practice other skills such as tanning, beadwork, and bow making during the long summer days.

 

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What is inside the Bark Lodge?
 
Doll:

This is a replica of a Dakota doll found in the Bernisches Historisches Museum in Berne Switzerland. It is made of brain-tanned leather and is decorated with glass beads. The Dakota may have used cattails for the soft stuffing in the doll.

 
Compare Sewing kits:
The pre-contact sewing kit is stored in a brain-tanned leather bag. It contains an awl, used for making holes in material, and needles made of bone. The wide, flat needle is used for weaving. The trade sewing kit is in a wool bag with metal needles, awl, beeswax, bone buttons and thread.

Learn about all of the items in the barklodge when you visit the museum!

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MUSEUM HOURS
Tuesday - Sunday, Noon to 4:00 pm
Weekday mornings by appointment		 ADMISSION PRICES
ADULTS . . . $8.00, 
SENIORS . . . $7.00
CHILDREN, ages 2-16 . . . $5.00
GIBBS MUSEUM
of Pioneer and Dakotah Life
2097 West Larpenteur Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55113
651-646~8629  
 Gibbs@rchs.com
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Our Mission
 "The Ramsey County Historical Society inspires current and future generations to learn from
and value their history by engaging in a diverse program of presenting, publishing and preserving." 

The place for St. Paul & Ramsey County, Minnesota history.
Ramsey County Historical Society programs include a research center, St. Paul & Ramsey County MN history magazine, 
historical exhibits, historic site attraction the Gibbs Museum of Pioneer and Dakotah Life.

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RAMSEY COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
 323 Landmark Center, 75 West Fifth Street, Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102    
Phone: (651) 222-0701, Fax: (651) 223-8539
info@rchs.com
Copyright 2012

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