Upper Chinook people lived in plank houses for part of the year. When the rivers rose, people moved out of the flood plain, towing the planks from their house behind their canoes. During summer, temporary houses with sides of cattail mats and cedar bark roofs were convenient to move from one fishing location to the next.

In 1805, the Corps of Discovery stopped at a large village near the Sandy River Delta. There they noted one plank house and twenty-four temporary houses with bark roofs.

While returning east through this area in 1806, a few Corps members visited their local guide’s home. They were surprised to see a large house with seven apartments, with about 100 people living there.

the residence of our Pilot...consists of one long house with Seven appartments or rooms in Square form about 30 feet [square] each room opening into a passage which is quit[e] through the house...the house is built of bark of the White Cedar...