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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Page 1 of 235
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Balm of America
- Description
- The indications or uses for this product as provided on its packaging:
- For coughs, colds, pulmonary complaints, consumption, asthma, whooping cough, pleurisy, spitting blood, etc.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- ca 1862-1871
- 1862-1871
- maker
- Thomas Hollis
- ID Number
- MG.M-10766 [dup68]
- catalog number
- M-10766 [dup68]
- accession number
- 256193
- 256193
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1875-10-15
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- New, John Chalfant
- Register of the Treasury
- Allison, John
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Bellevue
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.029417
- catalog number
- 297219.029417
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 2302
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Trade Card for Flemming's Electro-Medical Instrument Manufactory
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1876
- fair dates
- 1876
- ID Number
- DL.309976.0012
- catalog number
- 309976.0012
- accession number
- 309976
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
10 Dollars, United States, 1872
- Description (Brief)
- One (1) 10 dollar coin
- United States, 1872
- Obverse Image: Left facing Liberty with hair tied in a bun and wearing a coronet. 13 stars around.
- Obverse Text: LIBERTY / 1872
- Reverse Image: Eagle with wings outstretched clutching arrows and branch in talons, shield over chest. Scroll above eagle.
- Reverse Text: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA / IN GOD WE TRUST / TEN D. / S
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Date made
- 1872
- designer
- Gobrecht, Christian
- mint
- U.S. Mint, San Francisco
- ID Number
- NU.68.159.0854
- accession number
- 283645
- catalog number
- 68.159.0854
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1875-06-25
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- New, John Chalfant
- Register of the Treasury
- Allison, John
- issuing bank
- Metropolitan National Bank of Pittsburgh
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.034493
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.034493
- bank charter number
- 2279
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
An Hour with the Poets Program
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1877
- ID Number
- 2015.3005.122
- nonaccession number
- 2015.3005
- catalog number
- 2015.3005.122
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1873-02-15
- Treasurer of the United States
- New, John Chalfant
- Register of the Treasury
- Allison, John
- issuing bank
- Citizens National Bank of the City of Yonkers
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.025498
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.025498
- bank charter number
- 2074
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Designating Flag, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 20th Army Corps
- Description
- Wool bunting pennant flag. White field with a red border on the hoist edge. In the center of the flag is a blue five-point star. White cotton hoist with no grommets. The inscription on the hoist reads "3rd Div. 2nd Brg. 20th Army Corps R.C. Toy 49.N.9th Phila." Flat-felled seams.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890-1897
- maker
- Robert C. Toy
- ID Number
- AF.25250P
- catalog number
- 25250P
- accession number
- 64127
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Allegheny Parade Hat
- Description
- Beginning in the late 18th century, some volunteer fire fighters began to wear hats painted with their company’s name to identify themselves at chaotic fire scenes. During the 19th century, these fire hats became more ornate, as portraits of historical figures, patriotic scenes, allegorical images, or company icons were painted alongside the company’s name, motto, or founding date. Made of pressed felt, these “stove-pipe” hats were primarily used in Philadelphia, but other nearby cities such as Baltimore and Washington adopted them as well. Fire hats were personal items with the owner’s initials often painted on the top of the hat. While these hats were worn at fires, they are more colloquially known as “parade hats.” Fire companies commonly marched in the many parades of the period and these ornate hats contributed to the visual culture of their day. These distinguishing features in a company’s regalia often proclaimed the members’ cultural and political identity as well as their position on contested topics such as work, religion and immigration.
- This hat dates to the first half of the 19th century from Allegheny, Pennsylvania. The hat has been painted red, and bears the text “ALLEGHENY” in gold above a United States shield. The date “1802” is painted in gold on the back of the hat, and the crown of the hat has a star shaped designed with the letter “A” in the center. The Allegheny Fire Company of Allegheny, Pennsylvania was founded in 1802 and operated until 1870, when it was absorbed by the municipal fire department.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- in use
- 1802-1870
- company which the hat's owner belonged to
- Allegheny Engine Co.
- owner
- Neel, Harry
- maker
- unknown
- ID Number
- 2005.0233.0026
- catalog number
- 2005.0233.0026
- accession number
- 2005.0233
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Stevens Rocking Grate Bar, Patent Model
- Description
- This model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office with the application for the patent issued to Francis B. Stevens, November 11, 1879, no. 221430.
- The model represents a grate surface formed of ordinary fish-bellied grate bars on each of the lower ends of which two journal bearings are formed to fit into and rest in two corresponding rounded socket bearings. The bar is made to rock in each of these bearings alternately to the right and left, so that the upper part of the grate overhangs the right-hand socket when rocked to the right, and the left-hand socket when rocked to the left. That the upper part of the grate bar will overhang the center on which it turns is the improvement claimed by the inventor.
- Reference:
- This description comes from the 1939 Catalog of the Mechanical Collections of the Division of Engineering United States Museum Bulletin 173 by Frank A. Taylor.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1879
- patent date
- 1879-11-11
- inventor
- Stevens, Francis B.
- ID Number
- MC.309217
- catalog number
- 309217
- accession number
- 89797
- patent number
- 221,430
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
SPRING.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- ca 1870
- maker
- Currier & Ives
- ID Number
- DL.60.1107C
- catalog number
- 60.1107C
- accession number
- 115031
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1872-01-15
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- New, John Chalfant
- Register of the Treasury
- Allison, John
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Rochelle
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.005574
- catalog number
- 297219.005574
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 1922
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
diary
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated dates
- 1863 01 01+ / 1863 01 01+, 1863 12 31- / 1863 12 31-
- ID Number
- 1993.3005.01
- catalog number
- 1993.3005.01
- nonaccession number
- 1993.3005
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Walsh's Physician's Combined Call Book and Tablet
- Location
- Currently not on view
- associated dates
- 1879 01 01+ / 1879 01 01+, 1879 12 31- / 1879 12 31-
- ID Number
- MG.302606.426
- accession number
- 302606
- catalog number
- 302606.426
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1875-02-25
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Gilfillan, James
- Register of the Treasury
- Bruce, Blanche Kelso
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Montrose
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.034377
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.034377
- bank charter number
- 2223
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Hugo Fulda's appointment as Drum Major, 5th Maryland Volunteers
- Description
- Original appointment of Hugo Fulda as Drum Major of the 5th Regiment, Maryland Volunteers, dated May 8, 1862.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- May 8, 1862
- associated date
- 1862 05 08
- ID Number
- AF.285035
- catalog number
- 15202
- accession number
- 57326
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Designating Flag, Artillery Brigade, 18th Army Corps
- Description
- Wool bunting pennant flag. Red field with white cross bottony in the center of the flag. White cotton hoist with no grommets. The inscription on the hoist reads "Brg/Art'y 18th Army Corps R C Toy 49 N. 9th Phila." Machine-stitching; flat-felled seams.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1890-1897
- maker
- Robert C. Toy
- ID Number
- AF.25248B
- catalog number
- 25248B
- accession number
- 64127
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
"Heroes of Bunker Hill" Platter
- Date made
- c.1876
- maker
- C. Ash and Sons
- Gillinder & Sons
- ID Number
- CE.316487.2
- catalog number
- 316487.02
- accession number
- 316487
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1871-04-15
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- New, John Chalfant
- Register of the Treasury
- Allison, John
- issuing bank
- First National Bank of Jefferson City
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.018758
- catalog number
- 297219.018758
- accession number
- 297219
- bank charter number
- 1809
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
certified proof
- Crowdsourcing
- Transcribed by Smithsonian digital volunteers
- Location
- Currently not on view
- plate date
- 1872-09-18
- issuing authority
- U.S. Department of the Treasury
- Treasurer of the United States
- Wyman, Albert Uriah
- Register of the Treasury
- Allison, John
- issuing bank
- German National Bank of The City of Newark
- manufacturer
- Bureau of Engraving and Printing
- ID Number
- NU.297219.021831
- accession number
- 297219
- catalog number
- 297219.021831
- bank charter number
- 2045
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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