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.
-
Environmental Button
- Description
- Some environmental campaigns sought to change the behavior of government agencies. As the world’s largest public engineering, design, and construction agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers attracted broad-based criticism in the 1960s and thereafter for its aggressive program of dams and channel building. River advocates in particular were urged to “Keep Busy Fighting the Corps.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- maker
- Rivercity Art
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.0636
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.0636
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Environmental Button
- Description
- The “Dirty Dozen” refered to on this button is a list of legislators who were seen as being unsympathetic to environmental causes. The list was developed by the League of Conservation Voters and Environmental Action in the 1970s.
- Political activism continues to be an important element of the environmental movement. This button illustrates one approach, to oppose political candidates with poor environmental records.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.1502
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.1502
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Environmental Button
- Description
- The slogan on this button refers to James G. Watt, who was named Secretary of the Interior by President Ronald Reagan in 1981. Due to controversial positions regarding the commercial development of federal lands, environmental groups such as the Sierra Club, National Audubon Society, and Friends of the Earth criticized Watt during his tenure and called for his ouster. Watt resigned in 1983 after making inappropriate comments before Congress regarding the makeup of his department.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- date made
- 1981-1983
- ID Number
- 2003.0014.1528
- accession number
- 2003.0014
- catalog number
- 2003.0014.1528
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
Filter Your Results
Click to remove a filter:
