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 Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This tin oil-wick lamp was manufactured by the Leonard Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. The Leonard Bros. (also known as T.F. Leonard Co.) advertised their lamps in the 1882 “Engineering and Mining Journal” as being available with three different spout sizes, made of seamless brass without any soldering. This particular lamp seems to have one of the larger spouts.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.059081
- catalog number
- 059081
- accession number
- 14851
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Hughes Brothers of Scranton, Pennsylvania manufactured this Davy style safety lamp in the latter half of the 19th century. Encasing the flame in metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9548A
- accession number
- 280476
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9548A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Koehler Manufacturing Company of Marlboro, Massachusetts produced this safety lamp during the 20th century. This lamp employs glass enclosure to protect the flame from extinguishing, wire gauze in the top-interior to keep the flame from escaping, and a metal bonnet exterior that serves both purposes.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9757A
- accession number
- 304880
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9757A
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This is a "Baby" Wolf Company Safety Lamp manufactured in the early 20th century. The "baby" name denotes its smaller size, and the "permissible" on the plaque indicates that this lamp was approved by the United States Bureau of Mines. The baby Wolf safety lamp was manufactured for mine bosses who only needed lamps for infrequent, brief periods.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7858
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7858
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover on its entrance into the battery. The battery could power the six candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. The battery is a Model "E" and the lamp is a Model "H.”
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8038
- accession number
- 236603
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining Lamp consisted of a battery encased in a self-locking steel case worn on the miner’s belt. A flexible cord traveled to the cap lamp, and was protected by a flexible steel cover at its entrance into both the battery and lamp. The battery could power the six candlepower lamps for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This battery is a Model "J" and the headpiece is a Model "H."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8034
- accession number
- 236603
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8034
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Oil-Wick Mining 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 hook enabled the lamp to be worn on a cap.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-310686
- accession number
- 125257
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-310686
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This Davy style safety lamp was made by an unknown maker 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 metal gauze prevented the flame from escaping the lamp and igniting the combustible gases (called firedamp), as would happen with the open flames of carbide or oil-wick lamps.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9250
- accession number
- 272081
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9250
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The lamp was manufactured by J. Anton and Son of Monongahela, Pennsylvania between 1905 and 1918. J. Anton and Son marketed their lamps under the trade name of U.S.A. Eagle, and there is an image of an eagle impressed on the lamp. The long spout has a circular bezel to protect the cap.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7726
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7726
- accession number
- 235038
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Cap 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 hook enabled the lamp to be worn on a cap, or hooked onto any other suitable location.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8777A
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8777A
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- The Koehler Manufacturing Company produced this safety lamp during the 20th century. This lamp employs glass enclosure to protect the flame from extinguishing, wire gauze in the top-interior to keep the flame from escaping, and a metal bonnet exterior that serves both purposes. The lamp seems to be rusted.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8919
- accession number
- 260126
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8919
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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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
-
Carbide Mining Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This carbide mining lamp was made by an unknown maker during the early 20th century. This lamp was meant to be hung or hand-held, rather than worn on a cap. In carbide lamps, 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.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9767
- accession number
- 304880
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9767
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Carbide Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This mining lamp is a “Guy’s Dropper” model made by the Shanklin Manufacturing Company of Springfield, Illinois, first manufactured in 1913. The lamp is named after its inventor, Frank Guy, a miner from Springfield. Frank Guy partnered with George and Edgar Shanklin to produce this lamp, and the lamp saw tremendous success through World War I. The Shanklin Mfg. Co. was sold to the Universal Lamp Company in 1932, who continued to make "Guy's Dropper."
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MI-1115.2
- accession number
- 1978.0288
- catalog number
- MHI-MI-1115.2
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Carbide Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This lamp is a Dew-R-Lite model, manufactured in the 1930's by the Dewar Manufacturing Co. of Brooklyn, New York. Dewar produced carbide mining lamps from around 1914 until it was bought by the Wolf Safety Lamp Co. in the late 1930’s. Dewar was well known for its “I-T-P” (It’s Trouble Proof), Sun Ray, and Dew-R-Lite lamp brands. This lamp is notable for its perforated reflector.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8942
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8942
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This safety lamp was manufactured by the American Safety Lamp and Mine Supply Company of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the latter half of the 19th century. This safety lamp employs a wire gauze with metal bonnet and a glass globe surrounding the wick to protect the flame. Safety lamps were invented in the early 19th century, and are used to this day for gas detection, even as mine lighting has been replaced by electric lights.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8789
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8789
- accession number
- 265669
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- First manufactured in 1912, the Edison Safety Mining 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 cover at both ends, connected the battery to the cap lamp. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamp for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7949
- accession number
- 240639
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7949
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner’s Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This Davy-style safety lamp was made by L.F. Madara of Gilberton, Pennsylvania during the late 19th century. This Davy-style safety lamp employs a wire gauze that surrounds the flame. The flame is unable to pass through the holes in the gauze, preventing any methane in the air from igniting. The lamp has been mounted on a plastic base.
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8775
- accession number
- 265669
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8775
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This tin oil-wick mining lamp was manufactured by F.W. Watson & Co. of Scranton, Pennsylvania in the late 19th century. Mr. Watson was a prominent member of the Scranton community, serving as chief engineer of the Scranton Fire Department. According to the "Wilkes-Barre Scranton Statistical and Trade Review" of 1881 his company was known for its quality metalwork, such as plumbing, stoves, and steam fittings.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.059082
- catalog number
- 059082
- accession number
- 014851
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Safety Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- While safety lamps were phased out for light-producing purposes in the mid-20th century, they still play a role in gas detection. This Pieler lamp is made expressly for gas detection and measurement. The flame would have been lowered to a small height. In the presence of methane, a blue "cap" would appear on the flame, with the height of the flame corresponding to the amount of methane in the air, easily measured by the scale built into the lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7867
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7867
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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