Nisquilly tribes lived in plank houses which were long rectangular buildings with a gable roof and a central fire pit. The walls of the house were made of vertical planks that were held in place by horizontal beams. The roof was made of planks that were covered with bark or mats. The fire pit was located in the center of the house and was used for cooking, heating, and lighting. The people slept in sleeping platforms and storage shelves were built near the fire pit. The houses were usually built near rivers or streams so that the people had easy access to water.