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.
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North American Geophysical Gravimeter
- Description
- Gravimeters (gravity meters) are extremely precise instruments that measure the earth’s gravity at a specific location. Gravimeters are often used by prospectors to locate subterranean deposits of valuable natural resources (mainly petroleum) as well as by geodesists to study the shape of the earth and its gravitational field. Differences in topography, latitude, or elevation—as well as differences in subterranean density—all affect the force of gravity. Commonly, gravimeters are composed of a weight hanging on a zero-length spring inside a metal housing to negate the influence of temperature and wind. Gravity is then measured by how much the weight stretches the spring.
- This is an example of the gravimeter that the North American Geophysical Co. began advertising in 1945. It has a LaCoste-type zero-length spring, and a null system with a beam support. It is buoyancy compensated and, when new, accurate to within .01 of a milligal. It is read by microscope. It weighs 28 lbs. This particular unit was probably made sometime after 1950 when Reginald C. Sweet obtained a patent (#2,523,075) and assigned it to the North American Geophysical Co. Robert M. Iverson donated it to the Smithsonian in 1967.
- Ref: G. E. Sweet, The History of Geophysical Prospecting (Los Angeles, 1966).
- L. L. Nettleton, Gravity and Magnetics in Oil Prospecting (New York, 1976), p.62.
- Advertisements for North American gravimeters in Geophysics 11 (1946): 28; 14 (1949): 62; and 16 (1951): 28.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- North American Geophysical Co.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-P-9376
- catalog number
- MHI-P-9376
- accession number
- 281132
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Environmental Button
- Description
- The National Association of Audubon Societies was founded in 1905 to protect birds whose populations were being decimated by hunters for the plume (feather) trade. The organization was named after John James Audubon, a 19th century naturalist and artist who produced the book series Birds of America, published between 1827 and 1838. In 1940 the Association changed its name to the National Audubon Society, and since that time it has become engaged with a broad array of environmental concerns.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0143
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0143
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Alaska Ocean Coveralls
- Description
- Fish processors, laboratory staff, inspectors, supervisors, and others who work in the factory aboard the Alaska Ocean wear royal blue coveralls like these when on duty. These polyester coveralls are worn over other clothing to maintain standards of hygiene in the factory. Some processors change their coveralls several times during their daily 12-hour shift, which can extend to kicker shifts of an additional three hours. Because clean coveralls are always in demand, the factory’s laundry crew keeps the industrial washers and dryers running continuously. The coveralls, with the words Alaska Ocean emblazoned across the back, zip up the front and are typically worn tucked into boots.
- date made
- 2006
- Associated Date
- 2007
- used
- McFarland, Thelma
- maker
- Fristads
- ID Number
- 2007.0178.20
- catalog number
- 2007.0178.20
- accession number
- 2007.0178
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Environmental Button
- Description
- The Everglades is an extensive subtropical marshland in southern Florida. Marjory Stoneman Douglas, author of the 1947 book The Everglades: River of Grass, was influential in educating the public on the importance of this unique ecological area. The Everglades is still one of the nation’s biggest environmental battlegrounds as a result of ongoing fights over water use and distribution. Over 50% of its original area has been lost to agriculture and development.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0840
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0840
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Scrimshaw Sperm Whale Panbone, mid 19th Century
- Description
- This large panbone, or section of the back of a sperm whale’s jaw, served as the canvas for a whaleman’s freehand drawing on two levels. In the center of the upper level is a three-masted whaleship with painted gun ports along its sides. Merchant vessels often did this, to look like powerful warships from a distance and thus protect themselves from pirates or other predators. The ship’s vertical whaleboat davits are empty, and the ship is sailing towards its little fleet of four whaleboats in various stages of harpooning a pod of five whales. Four of the whales are ‘blowing,’ or exhaling through the blowholes on top of their heads. One of the whales already has two harpoons sticking out of its back and is towing a whaleboat on a ‘Nantucket sleigh ride.' Behind the ship on the left is an old-fashioned two-masted topsail schooner sailing in the opposite direction. The sea in the foreground is calm, and the scene is placed against a shoreline of low, rolling hills. Below is another pair of sailing ships: a two-masted square-rigged brig follows a brigantine with a square-rigged foremast and a fore-and-aft main. Although engraved by the same very talented artist, the two levels of illustrations do not appear to be related. Judging from the extremely detailed and technical rigs and sails of all the ships, the scrimshaw artist may have been a sailmaker or rigger.
- Scrimshaw began in the late 18th or early 19th century as the art of carving whale bone and ivory aboard whale ships. The crew on whalers had plenty of leisure time between sighting and chasing whales, and the hard parts of whales were readily available on voyages that could last up to four years.
- In its simplest form, a tooth was removed from the lower jaw of a sperm whale and the surface was prepared by scraping and sanding until it was smooth. The easiest way to begin an etching was to smooth a print over the tooth, prick the outline of the image with a needle and then “connect-the-dots” once the paper was removed. This allowed even unskilled craftsmen to create fine carvings. Some sailors were skilled enough to etch their drawings freehand. After the lines were finished, they were filled in with lamp black or sometimes colored pigments.
- Scrimshaw could be decorative, like simple sperm whale teeth, or they could be useful, as in ivory napkin rings, corset busks (stiffeners), swifts for winding yarn or pie crimpers. The sailor’s hand-carved scrimshaw was then given to loved ones back on shore as souvenirs of the hard and lonely life aboard long and dangerous voyages.
- date made
- mid 1800s
- 1840 - 1860
- ID Number
- DL.057605B
- catalog number
- 57605B
- accession number
- 2009.0206
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This tin oil-wick lamp was manufactured by the Leonard Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. The Leonard Bros. (also known as T.F. Leonard Co.) advertised their lamps in the 1882 “Engineering and Mining Journal” as being available with three different spout sizes, made of seamless brass without any soldering. This particular lamp seems to have one of the larger spouts.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.059081
- catalog number
- 059081
- accession number
- 14851
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Gill Net Float
- Description
- This simple object packs a lot of meaning for certain residents of the lower Columbia River near Astoria, Oregon. It is a cedar net float, made about 1955, for use on a gill net, the preferred gear of commercial salmon fishermen in the area. While this float was never used for that purpose, it remained in Astoria where, some fifty years later, it was fashioned into this object commemorating the fishery’s former significance.
- The original float was made at the Columbia Net Floats Mill, which operated in Astoria from 1952 to 1959. According to mill worker and fisherman Cecil Moberg, “There were three steps in the process to make floats. The bolts of cedar were cut into six inch blocks by a twenty-four inch cutoff saw. The next machine was a ram device, which pushed the blocks through a round die. A hole was drilled through the center of the block by a belt driven wood lathe. The blocks were then put on a high speed lathe and were hand turned in three motions: one sweep to the right, one to the left and one finishing sweep over the whole float, giving them a smooth finish.”
- Moberg estimated the mill produced about three million floats in seven years of operation. Considering that an average Columbia River gillnet was about 1500 feet long and had about 500 floats, it is not hard to imagine a need for millions of floats among local gill netters.
- By the time the mill closed, fishermen had begun using plastic floats. The surplus cedar floats were eventually given to the Columbia River Maritime Museum’s Auxiliary. Members of that group, including donor Frankye D. Thompson, were inspired to create souvenir items to call attention to Astoria’s past. They cut the floats in half and affixed the flat side with images from the fishery’s heyday. The photo on this float shows the fleet of sailing gill net boats around the turn of the 20th century. Called the “Butterfly Fleet” by Astorians, the small, sprit-rigged vessels are emblematic of the town’s fishing heritage. A piece of lead and lead line decorate the float, and historical information provided by Cecil Moberg is provided on a piece of paper rolled to fit inside the hole where the float would have been strung on the float line.
- Date made
- ca 1955
- mill worker and fisherman
- Moberg, Cecil
- display surplus cedar floats donated by Columbia Net Floats Mill
- Columbia River Maritime Museum
- maker
- Columbia Net Floats Mill
- ID Number
- 2005.0150.01
- accession number
- 2005.0150
- catalog number
- 2005.0150.01
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9548A
- accession number
- 280476
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9548A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Engraved wood block "Indians Pounding Acorns"
- Description (Brief)
- This engraved wood block was used to print an image in the publication "Narrative of the U.S. Exploring Expedition, During the Years 1838, 1839, 1840, 1841, 1842," 1844, Volume 5, page 205. The image was drawn by A. T. Agate, and drawn on wood by G. Armstrong. It was engraved by J. J. Butler, and originally printed by C. Sherman of Philadelphia in 1844.
- Description
- Joline J. Butler (about 1815–1846, working in New York City 1841-45) engraved this printing block after a drawing, Indians Pounding Acorns at New Helvetia (near present-day Sacramento, California), by Expedition Artist Alfred T. Agate. The wood engraving illustration was published on page 205 of Volume V of the U.S. Exploring Expedition Narrative by Charles Wilkes, 1844.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca 1844
- ca 1844
- publisher
- Wilkes, Charles
- graphic artist
- Butler, Joline J.
- original artist
- Agate, A. T.
- Armstrong, G.
- printer
- Sherman, Conger
- author
- Wilkes, Charles
- ID Number
- 1999.0145.207
- accession number
- 1999.0145
- catalog number
- 1999.0145.207
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Koehler Manufacturing Company of Marlboro, Massachusetts produced this safety lamp during the 20th century. This lamp employs glass enclosure to protect the flame from extinguishing, wire gauze in the top-interior to keep the flame from escaping, and a metal bonnet exterior that serves both purposes.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9757A
- accession number
- 304880
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9757A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This is a "Baby" Wolf Company Safety Lamp manufactured in the early 20th century. The "baby" name denotes its smaller size, and the "permissible" on the plaque indicates that this lamp was approved by the United States Bureau of Mines. The baby Wolf safety lamp was manufactured for mine bosses who only needed lamps for infrequent, brief periods.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7858
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7858
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Chromolithograph of "Colorado Desert and Signal Mountain"
- Description
- This chromolithograph of “Colorado Desert and Signal Mountain” was originally drawn by Charles Koppel and printed as Plate XI in the first report of volume V of Reports of Explorations and Surveys, to ascertain the most practicable and economical route for a railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean, “Explorations In California for Railroad Routes, to Connect with the Routes near the 35th and 32nd Parallels of North Latitude.” The volume was printed in 1856 by Beverley Tucker in Washington, D.C.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1856
- original artist
- Koppel, Charles
- publisher
- U.S. War Department
- author
- Williamson, Robert Stockton
- printer
- Tucker, Beverley
- graphic artist
- unknown
- publisher
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Topographic Command
- ID Number
- GA.10729.26
- accession number
- 62261
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Hand Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp is the top portion of the Edison Model “H” hand lantern, made during the 1930s. The portion includes the lamp’s light bulb and handle.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8944
- accession number
- 240639
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8944
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover on its entrance into the battery. The battery could power the six candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. The battery is a Model "E" and the lamp is a Model "H.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8038
- accession number
- 236603
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Environmental Button
- Description
- The slogan on this button refers to a campaign by the environmental group the Sierra Club to promote and preserve the wilderness areas of Utah. It dates from the early 1990s. Wilderness protection was a touchstone issue among some environmental groups, and is still relevant despite the passage of the Wilderness Act in 1964.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- early 1990s
- ID Number
- 1999.0248.26
- catalog number
- 1999.0248.26
- accession number
- 1999.0248
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This plastic mining helmet was made during the 20th century. The dark black helmet has a metal and leather lamp bracket on its front. The bracket likely held either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7929
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7929
- accession number
- 237120
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover at its entrance into both the battery and lamp. The battery could power the six candlepower lamps for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This battery is a Model "J" and the headpiece is a Model "H."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8034
- accession number
- 236603
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8034
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Environmental Button
- Description
- Like the preservation of wilderness areas, the protection of rural landscapes–including family farms–has been an important element of the environmental movement. The American Farmland Trust, an organization founded in 1980, produced this button.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- after 1980
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.1174
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.1174
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Oil-Wick Mining Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This oil-wick cap lamp was made by an unknown maker during the second half of the 19th century. The oil-wick cap lamp was first invented in Scotland in 1850 and in use until the 1920’s. The font contained a mix of fat and oil for fuel, and a wick was inserted into the spout. The resulting flame was much brighter and more efficient than the candles it replaced. The hook enabled the lamp to be worn on a cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-310686
- accession number
- 125257
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-310686
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This Davy style safety lamp was made by an unknown maker in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9250
- accession number
- 272081
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9250
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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