Natural Resources

The natural resources collections offer centuries of evidence about how Americans have used the bounty of the American continent and coastal waters. Artifacts related to flood control, dam construction, and irrigation illustrate the nation's attempts to manage the natural world. Oil-drilling, iron-mining, and steel-making artifacts show the connection between natural resources and industrial strength.

Forestry is represented by saws, axes, a smokejumper's suit, and many other objects. Hooks, nets, and other gear from New England fisheries of the late 1800s are among the fishing artifacts, as well as more recent acquisitions from the Pacific Northwest and Chesapeake Bay. Whaling artifacts include harpoons, lances, scrimshaw etchings in whalebone, and several paintings of a whaler's work at sea. The modern environmental movement has contributed buttons and other protest artifacts on issues from scenic rivers to biodiversity.

This engraved woodblock of "Marble Canyon” was prepared by engraver Edward Bookhout (1844-1886) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 as Figure 26 (p.77) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tribu
Description
This engraved woodblock of "Marble Canyon” was prepared by engraver Edward Bookhout (1844-1886) and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 as Figure 26 (p.77) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). Thomas Moran (1837-1926) accompanied Powell on his expedition and drew the original image.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
original artist
Moran, Thomas
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Powell, John Wesley
graphic artist
Bookhout, Edward
block maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.0259
catalog number
1980.0219.0259
accession number
1980.0219
This engraved woodblock of “Climbing the Grand Canyon” was prepared by F. S.
Description
This engraved woodblock of “Climbing the Grand Canyon” was prepared by F. S. King and the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the print was published in 1875 on page 98 of John Wesley Powell's Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution. Thomas Moran (1837-1926) was the original artist.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Powell, John Wesley
original artist
Moran, Thomas
graphic artist
King, Francis Scott
maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.0474
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.0474
This engraved woodblock of an “Australian grave and carved trees” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 37 (p.76) in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Pictographs of the North American Indians: a pr
Description
This engraved woodblock of an “Australian grave and carved trees” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 37 (p.76) in an article by Garrick Mallery (1831-1894) entitled “Pictographs of the North American Indians: a preliminary paper” in the Fourth Annual Report of the Bureau of Ethnology to the Secretary of the Smithsonian, 1882-83.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1886
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Mallery, Garrick
block maker
J. J. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1206
catalog number
1980.0219.1206
accession number
1980.0219
associated institution
Faesch & Piccard
ID Number
EM.315850
catalog number
315850
accession number
221414
This engraved woodblock of the “Bird’s-eye view of cliffs of erosion” was prepared and printed by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 74 (p.162) in The Exploration of the Colorado River of the West by John Wesley Powell (1
Description
This engraved woodblock of the “Bird’s-eye view of cliffs of erosion” was prepared and printed by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published in 1875 as Figure 74 (p.162) in The Exploration of the Colorado River of the West by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). Henry Hobart Nichols (1838-1887) engraved the illustration which “depicts the Shin-ar’-ump Cliffs, Vermillion Cliffs, and Gray Cliffs, in order from right to left.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
printer
Government Printing Office
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
author
Powell, John Wesley
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
block maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1562
accession number
1980.0219
catalog number
1980.0219.1562
The viscosimeter began as a scientific instrument for laboratory use in the 1830s. In time, due to increased industrial production, demand for quality control, and use of mineral-based oils, it gained real-world importance.
Description
The viscosimeter began as a scientific instrument for laboratory use in the 1830s. In time, due to increased industrial production, demand for quality control, and use of mineral-based oils, it gained real-world importance. The favored form for petroleum products measured the time it took for a certain volume of fluid to empty out of a container. The standard American design was developed by George M. Saybolt, unveiled in the 1880s, and manufactured by the C. J. Tagliabue Mfg. Co. for the Standard Oil Company in New York. It resembled the viscosimeters designed by Boverton Redwood in Great Britain and by Karl Engler in Germany.
Tagliabue brought the basic Saybolt viscosimeter to the open market in 1905. An improved form adapted for steam, gas, or electric heating, appeared in 1914. It cost $82 with a stopwatch, and $75 without. Following Saybolt’s death in 1924, the New York Times implied that the viscosimeter was largely responsible for his $100,000 estate.
This example is marked: “The SAYBOLT Standard / UNIVERSAL VISCOSIMETER / C. H. Tagliabue Mfg. Co. / New York / Sole Sales Agents” and “C. J. TAGLIABUE MFG. CO. N.Y.” and “2880” and “PATENT PENDING” and “2880 STANDARD UNIVERSAL VISCOSIMETER, GEO. M. SAYBOLT, NEW YORK”. It was made after Saybolt applied for a patent in 1914, and before the patent was issued in 1915. The U.S. Military Academy donated it to the Smithsonian.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1914-1915
maker
C.J. Tagliabue Manufacturing Company
ID Number
CH.316411
catalog number
316411
accession number
223721
This pen-and-ink comic art drawing by Rube Goldberg from 1924 features the concept of using “windy” political speeches as free energy.Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was an engineer before he was a comic artist.
Description (Brief)
This pen-and-ink comic art drawing by Rube Goldberg from 1924 features the concept of using “windy” political speeches as free energy.
Rube Goldberg (1883-1970) was an engineer before he was a comic artist. After receiving an engineering degree, he started his career designing sewers for the City of San Francisco, but then followed his other interest and took a job as a sports cartoonist for the San Francisco Chronicle. After moving to New York in 1907 Goldberg worked for several newspapers, producing a number of short-lived strips and panels—many of which were inspired by his engineering background, including his renowned invention cartoons. In the late 1930s and 1940s he switched his focus to editorial and political cartoons and in 1945 founded the National Cartoonists Society. The Reuben, comic art’s most prestigious award, is named after him.
Location
Currently not on view
date made
1924-10-31
original artist
Goldberg, Rube
ID Number
GA.23492
catalog number
23492
accession number
299186
This engraved woodblock of a “View of Marble Canyon (from the Vermillion Cliffs)” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 63 (p.180) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries.
Description
This engraved woodblock of a “View of Marble Canyon (from the Vermillion Cliffs)” was prepared by the Government Printing Office in Washington, D.C.; the image was published as Figure 63 (p.180) in Report of the Exploration of the Colorado River of the West and Its Tributaries. Explored in 1869, 1870, 1871, and 1872, under the direction of the Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution by John Wesley Powell (1834-1902). The image depicts the “Colorado River [and] the Eastern Kaibab Displacements, appearing as folds [and] faults.”
Location
Currently not on view
date made
ca 1875
1875
publisher
Bureau of American Ethnology
printer
Government Printing Office
author
Powell, John Wesley
graphic artist
Nichols, H. H.
block maker
V. W. & Co.
ID Number
1980.0219.1355
catalog number
1980.0219.1355
accession number
1980.0219
Starting in 1790, American merchant ships larger than 150 tons and with more than 10 crew members were required to have medicine chests with contents assembled by an “apothecary of known reputation.” These had to be accompanied by instructions for the administration of each medic
Description
Starting in 1790, American merchant ships larger than 150 tons and with more than 10 crew members were required to have medicine chests with contents assembled by an “apothecary of known reputation.” These had to be accompanied by instructions for the administration of each medicine. Most commonly, either the captain or first mate administered pharmaceutical products to any crew in need.
This example has labels from the ports of Baltimore, Maryland; Mamaroneck, New York, and Halifax, Nova Scotia, indicating it was replenished more than once over its useful life.
Date made
19th Century
maker
Gray Telephone Pay Station Co.
ID Number
MG.302606.154
catalog number
302606.154
accession number
302606
This tinted lithograph of “Cascades of the Columbia" was produced by Sarony, Major & Knapp (fl. 1857-1867) after an original sketch by John Mix Stanley (1814-1872). It was printed as Plate XLV in Volume XII, Book I, following page 155, in the "General Report" by Isaac I.
Description (Brief)
This tinted lithograph of “Cascades of the Columbia" was produced by Sarony, Major & Knapp (fl. 1857-1867) after an original sketch by John Mix Stanley (1814-1872). It was printed as Plate XLV in Volume XII, Book I, following page 155, in the "General Report" by Isaac I. Stevens (1818-1862) in the "Report of Explorations for a Route for the Pacific Railroad near the 47th and 49th Parallels of North Latitude, from St. Paul, Minnesota, to Puget Sound," 1855.
The volume was published as part of the "Explorations and Surveys to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a Railroad from the Mississippi river to the Pacific Ocean," published as a twelve volume set in the mid-1850s to 1860. Volume 12 was printed in 1860 by Thomas H. Ford (1814-1868).
Location
Currently not on view
date of book publication
1860
graphic artist
Sarony, Major, & Knapp
original artist
Stanley, John Mix
graphic artist
Sarony, Major, & Knapp
original artist
Stanley, John Mix
author
Stevens, Isaac Ingalls
printer
Ford, Thomas H.
graphic artist
Sarony, Major, & Knapp
publisher
U.S. War Department
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
ID Number
GA.24834
catalog number
24834
accession number
1978.0612
Color print depicting one large and three small town views. The main view is a panorama of a city beside a river with two covered bridges connecting it to a grassy area in the foreground. Sailing vessels and a steamboat are on the river to the left.
Description (Brief)
Color print depicting one large and three small town views. The main view is a panorama of a city beside a river with two covered bridges connecting it to a grassy area in the foreground. Sailing vessels and a steamboat are on the river to the left. The tree smaller views along the bottom of the print depict a factory beside a falls (Norwich Falls), a rural town (Norwich Town) and a factory complex on a river (Greenville, Norwich).
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
n.d.
artist; lithographer
Knecht, H.
printer
Rau, Jacob
ID Number
DL.60.3742
catalog number
60.3742
Color print depicting the city of Manchester in the distance with a rural wooded landscape in the foreground. A river separates the rural area from the city with industrial buildings lining the river bank.Currently not on view
Description (Brief)
Color print depicting the city of Manchester in the distance with a rural wooded landscape in the foreground. A river separates the rural area from the city with industrial buildings lining the river bank.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1855
maker
Endicott and Company
artist
Bachelder, John Badger
ID Number
DL.60.3751
catalog number
60.3751
Camera-ready pen and ink drawings by Rube Goldberg for his two comic series Bill and Boob McNutt dated June 12, 1932.
Description
Camera-ready pen and ink drawings by Rube Goldberg for his two comic series Bill and Boob McNutt dated June 12, 1932. Goldberg drew for the Bill series between 1931 and 1934, and the Boob McNutt series between 1915 and 1934.
Bill and girlfriend Sally try to recover stolen jewels with the help of old Captain Jim. Boob and Mike and Ike are thought to have been killed while flying on the damaged dirigible.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
June 12, 1932
original artist
Goldberg, Rube
publisher
Star Company
ID Number
GA.23496
accession number
1972.299186
catalog number
GA*23496
After some species of whales were killed, their carcasses sank. Other species, like the right whale, floated.
Description
After some species of whales were killed, their carcasses sank. Other species, like the right whale, floated. A whale that sank represented a major loss to the whaleship crews, who had risked their lives to capture the creatures.
To prevent this sort of loss and maximize a whaleship’s efficiency, Thomas Roys of the whaling port of Southampton, on Long Island, N.Y., patented an apparatus for “Raising Dead Whales From the Bottom of the Sea.” There is little evidence that many American whalers tried the device or that it found widespread use in the industry.
Date made
1862
patentee
Roys, Thomas W.
ID Number
AG.332326
catalog number
332326
accession number
94380
patent number
35476
The wooden screw sloop of war USS Alaska was built in 1868 and spent much of her career in the southern Pacific and Far East representing the American nation in foreign ports.
Description
The wooden screw sloop of war USS Alaska was built in 1868 and spent much of her career in the southern Pacific and Far East representing the American nation in foreign ports. In June 1878, she cleared New York for San Francisco and stopped at several South American ports on the way.
One of Alaska's port calls from 20-29 September 1878 was to Talcahuano, in the center of Chile's coast and that nation's main naval port. It also was one the principal stops for American whalers in the Pacific seeking fresh supplies and entertainment. This massive sperm whale's tooth was probably purchased there and engraved by one of Alaska's crew to commemorate his visit. While the carver of this tooth is unknown, it may have been one of the officers who kept the official ship's logbooks, because the calligraphy on the covers of the logs for this voyage is exceptionally elaborate and colorful.
As this tooth indicates, the Talcahuano visit and liberty calls were memorable. Sent ashore on liberty, 54 of Alaska's crew went AWOL (Absent WithOut Leave), and three more were confined to double irons (feet and hand cuffs) for drunk and boisterous behavior or fighting.
Date made
1878
USS Alaska port call to Chile, Talcahuano
1878-09
ID Number
DL.374477
catalog number
374477
accession number
136263
This photograph of Brazilian walnut wood is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
This photograph of Brazilian walnut wood is one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The logs shown in this photograph were located in New York, New York. The Bureau of American Republics gave the image in the frame to William Bucher. The frame is made of Brazilian Walnut (Imbuya) veneer on spruce, and the back band is made of ebony.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1915
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Pan American Union
ID Number
AG.115767.44
catalog number
AG*115767.44
accession number
115767
maker number
49
These four photographs of pine trees are one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C.
Description (Brief)
These four photographs of pine trees are one of forty-nine framed black and white photographic prints bequeathed to the Smithsonian by William F. Bucher of Washington, D.C. Bucher, a cabinetmaker, framed each photograph in wood of the same species as the tree depicted in the print. The photos were displayed in a special exhibition, Our Trees and their Woods at the United States National Museum in 1931.
The upper left photo shows a white pine tree in the Adirondack Mountains of New York that was taken by A. Varela. The upper right photo is a loblolly pine from North Carolina taken by “Lindsey.” The lower left photo is of a longleaf pine tree near Ocilla, Georgia taken by E. Block. The bottom right photo shows a balsam pine and white spruce that was taken by H.H. Chapman. All photographs come courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service. The frame is made from four woods; the top is made of white pine, the bottom is made of long leaf pine, the left hand side of common pine, and the right side is made of spruce.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
1926
frame maker
Bucher, William F.
photographer
Bucher, William F.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Forest Service
Lindsey
Varela, A.
Block, E.
ID Number
AG.115767.32
catalog number
AG*115767.32
accession number
115767
maker number
35
Camera-ready pen and ink drawings by Rube Goldberg for his comic series Bill, Boob McNutt, and Boob McNutt's Geography dated July 22, 1934.
Description
Camera-ready pen and ink drawings by Rube Goldberg for his comic series Bill, Boob McNutt, and Boob McNutt's Geography dated July 22, 1934. Goldberg drew for the Bill series between 1931 and 1934, for the Boob McNutt series between 1915 and 1934, and for the Boob McNutt's Geography series in 1934.
Bill sends Shoestring out to deliver mail but noone will give him a ride because he's so thin and can't see him. Boob McNutt unknowingly assists a thief and drives him to a rich town. Boob's Geography comic cell gives clues to the identity of a U.S. state.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
July 22, 1934
publisher
Star Company
original artist
Goldberg, Rube
ID Number
2006.0226.42
catalog number
2006.0226.42
accession number
2006.0226
2006.0226
Camera-ready pen and ink drawings by Rube Goldberg for his comic series Bill, Boob McNutt, and Boob McNutt's Geography dated June 10, 1934.
Description
Camera-ready pen and ink drawings by Rube Goldberg for his comic series Bill, Boob McNutt, and Boob McNutt's Geography dated June 10, 1934. Goldberg drew for the Bill series between 1931 and 1934, for the Boob McNutt series between 1915 and 1934, and for the Boob McNutt's Geography series in 1934.
Bill tries to promote his product Thinneroo to overweight baseball players and inadvertently causes the batter's bat to become thinner and to break. Boob McNutt's Jelly Roll Bus Line takes passengers to what he thinks is Washington, D.C. Boob's Geography comic cell gives clues to the identity of a U.S. state.
Location
Currently not on view
Date made
June 10, 1934
publisher
Star Company
original artist
Goldberg, Rube
ID Number
2006.0226.41
catalog number
2006.0226.41
accession number
2006.0226
This wooden surgical case with brass fittings has three main compartments, one of which is a tray that lifts out from the lower case. The interior of the case is molded so that each instrument has its own compartment. The entire interior is lined with purple velvet.
Description (Brief)
This wooden surgical case with brass fittings has three main compartments, one of which is a tray that lifts out from the lower case. The interior of the case is molded so that each instrument has its own compartment. The entire interior is lined with purple velvet. The exterior of the lid has an oval escutcheon which is marked, "U.S.A./ Hosp. Dept." The set includes 45 instruments, three of which are not original to the set. At least six instruments are missing, including four knives and a bandage scissors.
During the Civil War the United States Army contracted with several surgical instrument makers, including Herman Hernstein to provide surgical sets for the Union troops.
As a young boy in Germany Hermann Hernstein was apprenticed to a surgical instrument maker. He came to the United States in 1841 and settled in New York City. Within a few years, he had established his own shop.
According to Edmonson much of Hernstein’s inventory was imported from Europe.
Description
Surgical kits were not required on merchant vessels, but the larger and better-equipped ships often carried them. These were used for everything from pulling teeth to the amputation of limbs, and everything in between. Like the medicine chests, these kits too were often sold with simple pamphlets, with instructions and diagrams on how to use them in emergencies. The captain or first mate most commonly carried out any needed procedures.
date made
1862-1865
maker
Hermann Hernstein & Son
ID Number
1977.1103.01
accession number
1977.1103
catalog number
1977.1103.01
The group "Bike for a Better City" encouraged New York commuters and lawmakers to view bicycling as a means for everyday transportation.
Description
The group "Bike for a Better City" encouraged New York commuters and lawmakers to view bicycling as a means for everyday transportation. The organization, founded in 1970 by Barry Fishman and Harriet Green, called for the establishment of special bike lanes to make city biking safer.
Location
Currently not on view
maker
Fishman, Barry
ID Number
2003.0014.0051
catalog number
2003.0014.0051
accession number
2003.0014
David Hill founded the Rare Animal Relief Effort (RARE), in 1973. RARE is well known for its “Save the Whales” campaigns and has helped to protect other at risk animal populations such as manatees and Saint Lucia parrots.Currently not on view
Description
David Hill founded the Rare Animal Relief Effort (RARE), in 1973. RARE is well known for its “Save the Whales” campaigns and has helped to protect other at risk animal populations such as manatees and Saint Lucia parrots.
Location
Currently not on view
ID Number
2003.0014.0968
accession number
2003.0014
catalog number
2003.0014.0968

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