Like the goods we buy, the way we organize our houses and the space around them may also be an indicator of cultural identity. Aspects of African heritage can be seen in the manner in which African Americans constructed their homes and used the surrounding space.

Many African peoples, both enslaved and free, lived in small houses that opened onto communal areas or yards. While their homes were used for storage and sleeping, the communal spaces, yards, and porches were used for cooking, household chores, and other domestic activities.

These external spaces were considered extensions of the house, serving as places where family members could socialize with others in the community while they worked. In this way, social ties with other African Americans were strengthened and their sense of community was reinforced. This may have been the Robinson family practice as well. 

One of the most noticeable features of the original Robinson House was its small size - only 1½ stories with 400’ of living space and a porch. According to 1850 census data, nine people lived in James Robinson’s small home.

While the choice to build such a small structure may have been governed in part by socio-economic constraints, cultural ideas regarding what constituted a proper homestead were probably as important as economic considerations in determining the layout and size of the structure. It is believed that the Robinson family chose to keep a small home, despite having the means to construct a larger house, in order to remain unobtrusive and guard their privacy in a predominantly white community.