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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Miner’s Cap with Carbide Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This cap was made by an unknown maker around the early 20th century. The cap is made of soft cotton canvas with a leather bill, and leather 'L' on the front for the attachment of the lamp. A carbide lamp (object number AG*MHI-MN-9442B) is attached to the cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9442A
- accession number
- 263098
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9442A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This electric cap lamp was made by the Concordia Electric Co. The lamp was powered by a battery enclosed in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord, protected by a steel spring where it comes out of the battery, connected the battery to the cap lamp. This lamp is marked as permissible by the U.S. Bureau of Mines, and has an added cord for plugging into an electric outlet. This picture show the lamp attached to the miner’s cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-2683.02
- accession number
- 115674
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-2683
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Carbide Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This carbide mining lamp was made by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. Acetylene gas is produced when water from the lamp's upper level encounters the calcium carbide stored in the base via a dripping mechanism. The amount of water flowing into the calcium carbide container can be controlled, with more water producing more gas and a bigger flame when the lamp is lit. This lamp is worn on a cap with a reflector to direct and focus the light. The cap pictured here is object AG*MHI-MN-9442A.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9442B
- accession number
- 263098
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9442B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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