A yehakin (not a wigwam) was a Powhatan dwelling composed of natural materials obtained in the surrounding area. Its structure was built from saplings of natural trees such as red maples, locusts, and red cedar. The structure was then covered with either bark or marsh reed mats. Inside the yehakin, walls were made of thin boards coated with chalky white material found on the surface of some rocks in the area. A fire burned in the center of the floor, which was usually made of packed earth. Powhatan was the name of an ancient Indian king who lived in what is now Virginia. He is best known for building the first English-style house in America. After his death in 1618, his people continued to live in their yehakins until they moved into the new houses built by colonists under British rule. These early American homes were very similar to those built by the Indians before them. They used wood, had flat roofs, and had open floors inside where a fire was kept burning all day long. In time, these Indian-built houses were replaced by larger and more sophisticated versions over many years. By the mid-19th century, most Indians had stopped living in traditional houses and had instead adopted European styles of housing. These included houses built with bricks or stone, having flat roofs, and having two stories with rooms arranged around a central hallway on each floor.