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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John C. Breckinridge Campaign Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges. The rim of this badge has a hole so it could be worn.
- Obverse: Tintype of John Breckinridge. The rim’s legend reads: JOHN. C. BRECKINRIDGE 1860.
- Reverse: Tintype of Joseph Lane. The rim’s legend reads: JOSEPH LANE 1860.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Breckinridge, John C.
- Lane, Joseph
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1090
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1090
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Jefferson Davis Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of Jefferson Davis, labeled: DAVIS.
- Reverse: Tintype photograph of P.G.T. Beauregard, labeled: BEAUREGARD.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Davis, Jefferson
- Beauregard, Pierre Gustave Toutant
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1260
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1260
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln, and is inscribed around the rim with the text “Republican Candidate Abraham Lincoln 1860.”
- Reverse: Eagle with a shield, clutching three arrows and an olive branch in its talons. The legend reads: LIBERTY UNION AND EQUALITY.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1122
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1122
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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George B. McClellan Campaign Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of George B. McClellan in a brass frame. The frame has two shields flanking the photograph. Legend reads: FOR PRESIDENT G. B. McCLELLAN.
- Reverse: Tintype photograph of George H. Pendleton. The legend reads: FOR VICE PRESIDENT GEO. H. PENDLETON.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- McClellan, George B.
- Pendleton, George Hunt
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1101
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1101
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Stephen A. Douglas Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of Stephen Douglas facing forward. The legend reads: STEPHEN A DOUGLAS.
- Reverse: The legend reads: DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR THE PRESIDENCY/THE CHAMPION OF POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Douglas, Stephen A.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1187
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1187
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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James Polk Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1844. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods.
- Obverse: Bust of James K. Polk and George M. Dallas facing each other ringed by stars. Over is a spread-winged eagle with an olive branch in its beak. The legend reads: POLK/ DALLAS./ 1844/ THE PEOPLE'S CANDIDATES.
- Reverse: Seated female figure surrounded by a lamb, spinning wheel, and tobacco barrel, with a ship in the background. Legend: SUCCESS WILL CROWN OUR EFFORTS.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Polk, James K.
- Dallas, George M.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1307
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1307
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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John C. Frémont Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1856. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of John C. Frémont facing right. Legend reads: JOHN. C. FREEMONT. FREE SOIL & FREE SPEECH.
- Reverse: Image of eagle with shield, holding a laurel branch and three arrows in its talons. Legend reads: WM. L. DAYTON FREE SPEECH. FREE MEN.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Fremont, John Charles
- referenced
- Dayton, William L.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1149
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1149
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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John A. Bell Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges.
- Obverse: Tintype photo of John A. Bell. The legend reads: JOHN BELL 1860.
- Reverse: Tintype photograph of Edward Everett. The legend reads: EDWARD EVERETT 1860.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Bell, John
- Everett, Edward
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1102
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1102
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Horace Greeley Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1872. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Busts of Horace Greeley and Benjamin Brown facing right, with an image of two hands shaking underneath the busts. The legend reads: GREELEY & BROWN.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Greeley, Horace
- Brown, Benjamin G.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1185
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1185
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including campaign badges. The eagle has a pin so the badge could be worn.
- Obverse: Labeled tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax. The photo is in a golden colored frame featuring a spread-winged eagle, flanked by two golden American flags, and a scroll “E PLURIBUS UNUM.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- Colfax, Schuyler
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1181
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1181
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Benjamin Harrison Inaugural Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This inaugural medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1889. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of Benjamin Harrison facing left. The legend reads: BENJAMIN HARRISON PRESIDENT OF THE U.S.
- Reverse: Image of the United States Capitol with the legend: INAUGURATED MARCH 4, 1889.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Harrison, Benjamin
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1230
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1230
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Abraham Lincoln Campaign Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1864. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer, and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges. The badge is holed at the top so it could be worn on an article of clothing.
- Obverse: Photograph of Abraham Lincoln, labeled “A. Lincoln.” Housing reads: PAT. APR. 2.1861.
- Reverse: Photograph of Andrew Johnson labeled “Johnson.” Housing reads: PAT. APR. 2.1861.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- Johnson, Andrew
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1077
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1077
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Abraham Lincoln Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut during the 1860s. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right. The legend reads: ABR'M LINCOLN/ A FOE TO TRAITORS.
- Reverse: Legend reads: NO COMPROMISE WITH ARMED REBELS/ MAY THE UNION FLOURISH.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1298
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1298
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Raised white bust of Ulysses S. Grant facing left. The legend reads: GENERAL U.S. GRANT.
- Reverse: The legend reads: THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE IS THE LAW OF THE LAND.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1206
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1206
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Republican Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut in the 1860s. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Image of an eagle with shield clutching an olive branch and three arrows in its talons. The legend around the rim reads: SUCCCESS TO REPUBLICAN PRINCIPLES.
- Reverse: Legend reads: MILLIONS FOR FREEDOM NOT ONE CENT FOR SLAVERY.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1130
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1130
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Presidential Campaign Luggage Tag
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this luggage tag around 1904. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- This Presidential campaign novelty is a square luggage tag with the inscription: ROOSEVELT/1904/FAIRBANKS. Theodore Roosevelt and Charles Fairbanks were elected President and Vice President on the Republican ticket in 1904.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced
- Roosevelt, Theodore
- Fairbanks, Charles Warren
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1311
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1311
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Abraham Lincoln Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1860. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign medals.
- Obverse: Bust of Abraham Lincoln facing right. The legend reads: ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 1860.
- Reverse: Legend reads: FREEDOM NATIONAL SLAVERY SECTIONAL.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Lincoln, Abraham
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1199
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1199
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Ulysses S. Grant Campaign Badge
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign badge was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1868. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, and campaign badges. The colorful pink ring in this badge makes it especially attractive.
- Obverse: Tintype photograph of Ulysses S. Grant and Schuyler Colfax imbedded into a brass badge.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Grant, Ulysses S.
- Colfax, Schuyler
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1165
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1165
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Presidential Campaign Luggage Tag
- Description (Brief)
- The Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut produced this luggage tag around 1908. Scovill was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer and is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods including buttons, daguerreotype mats, medals, coins, and tokens.
- This Presidential campaign novelty is a square luggage tag with the inscription: BRYAN/1908/KERN. William Jennings Bryan and John Kern unsuccessfully ran for President and Vice President on the Democratic ticket in 1908.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- referenced
- Bryan, William Jennings
- Kern, John W.
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1312
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1312
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
William Henry Harrison Campaign Medal
- Description (Brief)
- This presidential campaign medal was made by the Scovill Manufacturing Company of Waterbury, Connecticut around 1840. The Scovill Company was established in 1802 as a button manufacturer that is still in business today. Scovill was an early industrial American innovator, adapting armory manufacturing processes to mass-produce a variety of consumer goods campaign medals. The medal has a hole so that it could be worn.
- Obverse: Bust of William Henry Harrison facing left. The legend reads: MAJ. GENl W. HARRISON BORN FEB. 9. 1773.
- Reverse: Image of a log cabin, and the legend: THE PEOPLE’S CHOICE/ THE HERO OF TIPPECANOE.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- depicted
- Harrison, William Henry
- maker
- Scovill Manufacturing Company
- ID Number
- 1981.0296.1200
- accession number
- 1981.0296
- catalog number
- 1981.0296.1200
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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