{"id":16724,"date":"2026-02-05T17:20:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-05T17:20:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/?p=16724"},"modified":"2026-02-05T17:21:24","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T17:21:24","slug":"hogan-construction-methods","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2026\/02\/hogan-construction-methods\/","title":{"rendered":"Hogan Construction Methods"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are two main types of traditional hogans, depending on how they are made.<\/p>\n

The Female Hogan is usually six-sided. It is built from logs or stone. The roof may be insulated with earth or mud. The Male Hogan or Forked Stick Hogan is not meant to be lived in. It is smaller and covered in wood, brush and mud.<\/p>\n

There are a lot of variations in modern hogan homes.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Hogan at Bah\u00e1\u02bc\u00ed Institute
Navajo Nation Reservation, Houck, Arizona
Photo by Peter Deer<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This hogan is at the Native American Bah\u00e1\u2019\u00ed Institute, in Houck, Arizona. It looks round, but they say it has nine sides.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Log Hogan
Hubbel Trading Post National Historic Site, Ganado, Arizona
Photo NPS<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you want to build a traditional hogan, most have six or eight walls.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Logs are arranged in concentric circles to create the roof of a Female Hogan<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The roof is “cribbed.” Logs are arranged in smaller and smaller circles to support brush and packed dirt or mud to create a dry, insulated roof.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Ceiling of Hogan in Window Rock
Photo by Chuck Kennedy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is what the roof looks like from the inside in this large hogan.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Reconstruction of traditional hogan
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, Arizona\/Utah
Photo by M P Sharwood<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a traditional winter hogan. Earth or mud adds insulation and waterproofing.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Eight-sided hogan built with plywood and vertical logs
Navajo Nation Arizona Four Corners Arizona Hwy 160
Photo by D. Graham<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Any materials available can be turned into a hogan.<\/p>\n

If you are building a hogan, you can start with plans: Modern Hogan Log Kits and Plans<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"
Log Hogan
Navajo Nation Museum
Window Rock, Arizona
Photo by Chris English<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

This is a recreation of a traditional log hogan.<\/p>\n

\"\"
Forked Poles are Interlocked to support a Male Hogan Source Navaho Houses, 1898, Cosmos Mindeleff<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Traditionally the logs would be covered with mud to “chink” or insulate the hogan.<\/p>\n

Cone shaped Male Hogans start with forked sticks.\u00a0\u00a0Three forked poles are raised upright and leaned toward the center until their forks lock together. Then they are reinforced with earth.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

There are two main types of traditional hogans, depending on how they are made. The Female Hogan is usually six-sided. It is built from logs or stone. The roof may be insulated with earth or mud. The Male Hogan or Forked Stick Hogan is not …<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":16740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[21,26],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-16724","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-inspiration","category-other-small-houses"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/featured-hogan.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16643,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/modern-hogan-log-kits-and-plans\/","url_meta":{"origin":16724,"position":0},"title":"Modern Hogan Log Kits and Plans","author":"Carla","date":"January 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Hogans are the round or multi-sided structures traditional to the Navajo people. The design has changed significantly over the years. Traditional hogans are built of juniper or pine logs. They are covered with mud, earth, and stone to make them water tight and insulated. They are naturally cool in the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House Plans"","block_context":{"text":"House Plans","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/house-plans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-modern_hogans.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-modern_hogans.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-modern_hogans.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-modern_hogans.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":16650,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2026\/01\/hubbell-trading-post-guest-hogan-and-free-plans\/","url_meta":{"origin":16724,"position":1},"title":"Hubbell Trading Post Guest Hogan and Free Plans","author":"Carla","date":"January 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"The hogan at the Hubbell Trading Post is an octagon with each wall approximately 10 feet. The interior is around 450 square feet. It has a bathroom and a kitchen area. The guest house is in the traditional shape of a Navajo hogan built in dressed local sandstone. It incorporates\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "House Plans"","block_context":{"text":"House Plans","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/house-plans\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-guest_hogan.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-guest_hogan.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-guest_hogan.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/featured-guest_hogan.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1634,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2018\/01\/putting-in-the-driveway-ditch-and-culverts\/","url_meta":{"origin":16724,"position":2},"title":"Putting in the Driveway, Ditch and Culverts","author":"Carla","date":"January 17, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"The house will have a cement driveway, but they are putting in a construction driveway that will cross the gully to where Cliff will put the barn. The gravel driveway is pretty wide. It's got a ditch on the right side. It is raised and slopes to allow the water\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Our New House"","block_context":{"text":"Our New House","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-house\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"The bobcat spread the gravel.","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/featured_image-driveway.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/featured_image-driveway.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/featured_image-driveway.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/featured_image-driveway.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13640,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/the-cabin-is-delivered\/","url_meta":{"origin":16724,"position":3},"title":"The Cabin is Delivered!","author":"Carla","date":"March 1, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The weather has been beautiful, but the night before the cabin was to be delivered it rained. And rained and rained and rained. As the sun came up there were puddles everywhere and it was cold and pouring rain. Westwood Cabins sent us an email to let us know that\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Modular Cabin"","block_context":{"text":"New Modular Cabin","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-cottage\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-cabin_delivery.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-cabin_delivery.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-cabin_delivery.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-cabin_delivery.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":13704,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2024\/03\/crane-day-part-1-putting-the-modular-cabin-on-the-foundation\/","url_meta":{"origin":16724,"position":4},"title":"Crane Day! Part 1: Putting the Modular Cabin on the Foundation","author":"Carla","date":"March 15, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"The crane was rescheduled because of weather. First thing yesterday morning the dogs lost their minds. Trucks and a crane were pulling in. We are finally going to have the cabin out of the mud and sitting on the foundation! It had been beautiful for days. The mud had dried\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "New Modular Cabin"","block_context":{"text":"New Modular Cabin","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-cottage\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-crane-cabin.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-crane-cabin.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-crane-cabin.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/featured-crane-cabin.jpg?fit=810%2C431&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":2063,"url":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/2018\/03\/more-progress-on-the-engineered-footers\/","url_meta":{"origin":16724,"position":5},"title":"More Progress on the Engineered Footers","author":"Carla","date":"March 7, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"Monday morning, March 5, they were out early and making good progress. The footers were so caved in and such a mess at this point, they kept re-surveying and checking to be sure they were following the new plan. They created a \u201cwell\u201d and put a pump in it to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Our New House"","block_context":{"text":"Our New House","link":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/category\/new-house\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"More Progress on the Engineered Footers","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/featured_image-more-progress-on-the-engineered-footers.jpg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/featured_image-more-progress-on-the-engineered-footers.jpg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/featured_image-more-progress-on-the-engineered-footers.jpg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/featured_image-more-progress-on-the-engineered-footers.jpg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/featured_image-more-progress-on-the-engineered-footers.jpg?fit=1200%2C632&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16724","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16724"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16724\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16742,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16724\/revisions\/16742"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16724"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16724"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.projectsmallhouse.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16724"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}