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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MSA Skullgard Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Skullgard helmet was manufactured by the Mine Safety Appliances Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 20th century. The Skullgard brand helmet was developed by MSA in 1930. The hat is made of Bakelite plastic with a leather and metal lamp bracket is attached to the front of the helmet, which probably would have held an electric lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-2681
- accession number
- 115672
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-2681
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Bullard Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Hard Boiled brand miner’s helmet was made by the E.D. Bullard Company of San Francisco, California after 1919. A leather and metal lamp bracket is mounted onto the front of the helmet that likely would have held a carbide lamp. Bullard was one of the first producers of protective hard hats, basing their original design off of the “doughboy” helmets worn by World War I soldiers. The helmet was made of canvas, glue, and black paint, and given the trademarked name “Hard Boiled” in because of the steam used in the manufacturing process to stiffen the leather.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9734
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9734
- accession number
- 299389
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Bakelite miner’s helmet was made during the first half of the 20th century. He helmet has a t-shaped leather lamp bracket attached to the front. The bracket likely held either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp. The interior of the helmet consists of a leather headband connected to eight suspension straps. There is a paper label on the helmet that reads "Gift of F.B. Davenport 90 / June 7 1951 / MINING & METALLURGY DEPT. / LAFAYETTE COLLEGE. Easton, PA." The National Museum of American History received many objects in its mining and metallurgy collection from Lafayette College.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8782A
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8782A
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Coal King Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This black Coal King brand miner’s helmet was made during the first half of the 20th century by the T.R. Jones Company of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The helmet is made of re-enforced leather, with a leather and metal lamp bracket in the front and a leather cord holder in the rear. The helmet’s cord holder keeps the cable out of the miner’s way, routing it behind the miner. The cord holder points to this helmet being used in conjunction with an electric lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9575B
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9575B
- accession number
- 282791
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
MSA Skullgard Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Skullgard helmet was manufactured by the Mine Safety Appliances Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 20th century. The Skullgard brand helmet was developed by MSA in 1930. The hat is made of Bakelite plastic with a leather and metal lamp bracket is attached to the front of the helmet, which probably would have held an electric lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-2681 [dup1]
- accession number
- 115672
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-2681
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Coal King Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This black Coal King brand miner’s helmet was made during the first half of the 20th century by the T.R. Jones Company of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The helmet is made of re-enforced leather, with a leather and metal lamp bracket in the front and a leather cord holder in the rear. The helmet’s cord holder keeps the cable out of the miner’s way, routing it behind the miner. The cord holder points to this helmet being used in conjunction with an electric lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9575A
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9575A
- accession number
- 282791
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Bullard Hard Boiled Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Hard Boiled brand miner’s helmet was made by the E.D. Bullard Company of San Francisco, California after 1919. A leather and metal lamp bracket is mounted onto the front of the helmet that likely would have held a carbide lamp. Bullard was one of the first producers of protective hard hats, basing their original design off of the “doughboy” helmets worn by World War I soldiers. The helmet was made of canvas, glue, and black paint, and given the trademarked name “Hard Boiled” because of the steam used in the manufacturing process.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8782B
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8782B
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Bullard Hard Boiled Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This Hard Boiled brand miner’s helmet was made by the E.D. Bullard Company of San Francisco, California after 1919. A leather and metal lamp bracket is mounted onto the front of the helmet that likely would have held an electric lamp. The rear of the helmet has a metal cord holder. Bullard was one of the first producers of protective hard hats, basing their original design off of the “doughboy” helmets worn by World War I soldiers. The helmet was made of canvas, glue, and black paint, and given the trademarked name “Hard Boiled” because of the steam used in the manufacturing process.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8782C
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8782C
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
MSA Comfo-Cap Miner’s Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This plastic Comfo-Cap brand miner’s helmet was manufactured by the Mine Safety Appliance Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 20th century. The MSA Company first registered their trademark for the Comfo-Cap in 1935 and continues to produce the helmet into the 21st century. The front of the helmet has a bracket for either a carbide mining lamp or electric lamp. This mining helmet has a low profile to avoid bumps, hard plastic to absorb impact, and its flat front served as an excellent mount for mining lights.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8181B
- accession number
- 239148
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8181B
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Flexo Band Cool Cap Miner’s Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This Flexo Band Cool Cap miner’s cap was distributed by the Portable Lamp & Equipment Company of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania during the 20th century. The cap is made of reinforced leather with a dome comprised of upstanding ribs allowing for protection and ventilation. A leather and metal lamp bracket is attached to the front of the cap. The bracket could have held an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8181C
- accession number
- 239148
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8181C
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Flexo Band Cool Cap Miner’s Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This is a Flexo Band Cool Cap. The Flexo Band Cool Cap was patented by Albert A. Strauss around 1933. The cap is made of reinforced leather with a dome comprised of upstanding ribs allowing for protection and ventilation. The Flexo Band Cool Cap was often colloquially referred to as a "turtle shell" helmet, due to its distinctive style. The Flexo Band Cool Cap was distributed by a few different companies during the 20th century, including the MSA Company and the Portable Lamp and Equipment Company. The leather and metal lamp bracket is attached to the front of the cap. The bracket could have held an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8181D
- accession number
- 239148
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8181D
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
