To tiki or to chickee that is the question: short history of the SW FL tiki hut

The orginal tiki huts started some 1450 BC with the Calusa Indians who at the time controlled most of south west Florida. Their influence in tiki building was brought to our Seminole Indians or “run-away-Indians” who transformed the tiki hut. They name this shelter “chickee” which means home in Seminole.

Westernized tiki in Fort Myers Beach

Though these island tikis are highly influenced by the Seminole Indians technique, there are some major differences to the fastening of the timber together to the palms. More modern tikis use different forms of nails and treated woods including waterproofing sealants over the roof.

The Florida Seminole Indians, who were pressed and hounded by American soldiers and push deep into of the Everglades, were master at relocating and moving quickly and that is the reason why these “Seminole chickees” though conformable, were built in such a way that they could be put together or taken apart rapidly. They were meant to be temporary.

Our Florida Indians,by the way, never lost the war against the US soldiers. These master run-a-ways managed to save their culture and people by hiding in the very wild and inhospitable depth of the Everglades. The largest Seminole Communities are still found in the Everglades and manage their own settlements and businesses with independent pride and a fair amount of success. They do not follow the rest of Southwest Florida building codes, unless they want to.

When I look at these Fort Myers Beach tiki huts I think of the long history behind these dwellings. Basic chickees use a thatch of palmettos supported by logs of cypress wood.Only Seminole Indians are allowed and authorized to removed cypress logs from our Floridian marches for building purposes.

Fort Myers Beach tikli huts along the Gulf Of Mexico

The Seminole Indians by the way consisted of a few different related tribes who migrated before the 1750’s to Northern Florida and were pushed deeper in the south by the US soldiers in the 1800’s.

Seminole Chickee Southwest Florida

Original chickees had a platform above the ground to protect against insects, animals, and provide more cooling. These days true chickees are built only by Seminole Indians and if hired they do not need to get a construction permit, they do need to follow zoning regulations.

Many homes in Fort Myers Beach and southwest Florida have adopted both of these dwellings on their properties, specially as a sun shelter, or as covered patios and are even seen on docks. They stay very popular.

Another time I will mention another great invention: the tiki bar!

For more information regarding Fort Myers Beach homes with bathrooms and air conditioning contact Lloyd!

LLoyd Nichols

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