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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Mining Tunnel Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp is an oil-wick cap lamp. The oil-wick cap lamp was first invented in Scotland in 1850 and remained 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 light was much brighter and more efficient than the candles it replaced. The hook enabled the lamp to be attached onto any suitable location inside the mine.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7989A
- accession number
- 234932
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7989A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Hanging Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This hanging lamp was manufactured by the Vaclite Lamp Company of New York around the late 19th century. The lamp could contain a larger amount of fuel than its predecessors. The wick pick is attached with a chain.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-311879
- accession number
- 155465
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-311879
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Mining Tunnel Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This oil-wick mining lamp was manufactured by P. Wall, Allegheny City, Pennsylvania around 1880. This lamp is a hanging lamp, and would burn a mix of fat and oil for fuel, with a wick inserted into the spout. The resulting light was much brighter and more efficient than the candles it replaced.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7989B
- accession number
- 234932
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7989B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Oil-Wick Mining Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This oil-wick lamp was made by an unknown maker during the second half of the 19th century. The oil-wick 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. This lamp has a handle, meaning it was carried rather than worn. The screw top has a chain connected to the handle to prevent it from being lost.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9774B
- accession number
- 304880
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9774B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Oil-Wick 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 tag calls this a “boss lamp,” and the hook on this lamp is larger than most, and was likely used to hold the lamp rather than hook it onto a cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9403
- accession number
- 272148
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9403
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Oil-Wick Miner’s Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This oil-wick lamp was made by an unknown maker during the 19th century. The oil-wick lamp was first invented in Scotland in 1850 and remained 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 light was much brighter and more efficient than the candles it replaced. This oil-wick lamp has a long hollow handle with twine in the interior, lacking the hook that would allow lamps like this to have been worn on a miner’s cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8811
- accession number
- 265669
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8811
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
