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 Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp was manufactured by J.W. Queen and Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, which would happen with the open flames in oil-wick cap lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.059083
- catalog number
- 59083
- accession number
- 14841
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Protector Lamp and Lighting Company of Eccles, Manchester, United Kingdom, manufactured this safety lamp during the second half of the 19th century. This Clanny style lamp features a glass enclosure at the bottom and wire gauze at the top.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8809
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8809
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp was manufactured by J.W. Queen and Company of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, which would happen with the open flames in oil-wick cap lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9795
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9795
- accession number
- 023416
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp's manufacturer is unknown, but based on its design it was most likely made in the late 19th century. The safety mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7754
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7754
- accession number
- 235034
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This safety lamp is a "baby" lamp with a signature engraved on the base of the lamp which reads "Jo. E. Sheridan." Joseph E. Sheridan was a U.S. Coal Mine Inspector for New Mexico in the early 1900’s. Mine bosses and inspectors, who would not need a full-size lamp for their short and infrequent excursions underground, often used baby lamps such as this one
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7859
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7859
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This is a "Baby" Wolf Company Safety Lamp manufactured in Brooklyn, New York in the early 20th century. The "baby" name denotes the lamp’s smaller size. The baby Wolf safety lamp was manufactured for mine bosses or officials who only needed lamps for infrequent, brief periods and could therefore have a smaller lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7861
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7861
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This is a "Baby" Wolf Company Safety Lamp manufactured in Brooklyn, New York in the early 20th century. The "baby" name denotes the lamp’s smaller size. The baby Wolf safety lamp was manufactured for mine bosses or officials who only needed lamps for infrequent, brief periods and could therefore have a smaller lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7860
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7860
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Mathieu Louis-Mueseler of Liege, Belgium manufactured this safety lamp around 1864-1904. The lamp was approved for use in Belgian mines, and was an improvement on the Clanny-style lamp due its improved ventilation leading to a brighter flame and less chance of combustion. The lamp features a glass enclosure for the flame and metal gauze at the top.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8824A
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8824A
- accession number
- 258906
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This is a safety lamp in the Davy style, probably manufactured in the late 1800's. Marked at the bottom: Hughes Bros. Scranton, PA, USA. At the top: ALDEN COAL CO. This lamp was used by Fire Bosses in the now defunct Alden Coal Company. Alden Coal Company was an independent company located in Alden, Pennsylvania, originally owned by the Sharpe family of Wyoming Valley.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7755
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7755
- accession number
- 234626
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp's manufacturer is unknown, but based on its design it was most likely made in the late 19th century. The safety mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7851
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7851
- accession number
- 235962
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This “safety” mining lamp was manufactured by the Hughes Brothers in Scranton, Pennsylvania, in the late 19th century. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Miners referred to combustible mine gases as “damp” (blackdamp, afterdamp, and stink damp) from the German “dampf” meaning vapor, or fume.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7723
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7723
- accession number
- 235039
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp's manufacturer is unknown, but based on its design, it was most likely made in the late 19th century. The safety mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented the combustible mining gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7722
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7722
- accession number
- 235039
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp's manufacturer is unknown, but based on its design it was most likely made in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. This Davy style lamp has the interesting addition of a lens to focus the flame's light.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8810
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8810
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp's manufacturer is unknown, but based on its design it was most likely made in the late 19th century. The safety mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7869
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7869
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- Mathieu Louis-Mueseler of Liege, Belgium manufactured this safety lamp around 1864-1904. The lamp was approved for use in Belgian mines, and was an improvement on the Clanny-style lamp due its improved ventilation leading to a brighter flame and less chance of combustion. The lamp features a glass enclosure for the flame and metal gauze at the top.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8824B
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8824B
- accession number
- 258906
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This safety lamp was manufactured by Friemann and Wolf of Zwickau, Germany, in 1926. This safety lamp was one of employed a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame. This lamp typifies one of the most popular and effective Friemann and Wolf designs.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7865A
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7865A
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This Hailwood's Air Regulator Safety lamp was manufactured in the late 19th century. A plaque at the base of the lamp reads, "Hailwood's Air Regulator/Closed Air Regulator in Strong Air Currents." While safety lamps did a good job of protecting flames from igniting gas, they also needed to be protected from being extinguished by strong drafts in the mine, which this lamp was designed to prevent.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7868
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7868
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp was manufactured by the J. Davies & Son Ltd. from Baltimore, Maryland in the late 19th century. The “safety” mining lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented the combustible gases (called firedamp) from exploding, as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. This lamp’s exterior metal coating is called a “bonnet” and was a big improvement in safety lamp design.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7721
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7721
- accession number
- 235039
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp's manufacturer is unknown, but it was likely made in the latter half of the 19th century. The “safety” lamp was a tremendous step forward in preventing mining disasters. Encasing the flame in glass or metal gauze prevented combustible mine gases (called firedamp) from exploding as would happen with carbide or oil-wick lamps. The top of the lamp has a number plate reading '1587' added. The bottom has the '1301' inscribed. The inscribed "serial number" of the lamp is 975587.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7865B
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7865B
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This is a safety lamp manufactured by the Friemann and Wolf Company of Zwickau, Germany in the late 19th century. The Friemann and Wolf Company was a prominent lamp manufacturer that exported their lamps to the U.S. until World War I, when buying German products became unpopular. This lamp is one of the most popular Wolf designs, employing a glass enclosure, wire gauze on the top-interior, and a metal bonnet exterior to protect the flame.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8801B
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8801B
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
