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 lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79844Z61
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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mining lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79844Z62
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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mining lamp
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79844Z67
- 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
- accession number
- 115672
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-2681
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Coal King Miner’s Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This miner’s cap was made during the early 20th century by the T.R. Jones Company of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The cap is a Coal King brand of hat that the T.R. Jones Company produced. The hat is made of reinforced leather, with a thick leather brim, and a thick leather and metal lamp bracket on the front of the hat. The bracket could hold either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp. Originally, mining caps were worn to serve simply as a lamp holder. As miner safety became more of a concern hats began to take on the additional role of providing protection, as evidenced by the inner suspension and reinforced leather of this hat.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- ZZ.RSN79853Z19
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Whale Harpoons, or Temple Toggle Irons
- Description
- While the African American blacksmith and former slave Lewis Temple did not invent the harpoon toggle, his invention made it better. The first barb at the tip of the toggle iron was designed to penetrate the whale’s flesh. The second barb also went straight in. A small wooden peg holding the lower barb in place would then break when the whale pulled away, allowing the barbed head to swivel away from the shaft. The new T-shape of the barb prevented the dart from pulling out of its wound.
- It was a harpooner’s responsibility to keep his tools sharp and well lubricated, to ensure that the toggle swiveled freely. Sometimes the men fashioned covers for the heads of their harpoons to keep them clean and dry until needed for use.
- One of these irons, or gigs, is shown in the closed position for entering the whale’s flesh; the other is toggled open to show how much harder it was to pull out.
- Date made
- 1882
- inventor
- Temple, Lewis
- ID Number
- AG.056244
- catalog number
- 056244
- accession number
- 012284
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Whale Hoist Patent Model
- Description
- After some species of whales were killed, their carcasses sank. Other species, like the right whale, floated. A whale that sank represented a major loss to the whaleship crews, who had risked their lives to capture the creatures.
- To prevent this sort of loss and maximize a whaleship’s efficiency, Thomas Roys of the whaling port of Southampton, on Long Island, N.Y., patented an apparatus for “Raising Dead Whales From the Bottom of the Sea.” There is little evidence that many American whalers tried the device or that it found widespread use in the industry.
- Date made
- 1862
- patentee
- Roys, Thomas W.
- ID Number
- AG.332326
- catalog number
- 332326
- accession number
- 94380
- patent number
- 35476
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Whaleman’s Pitch Dipper, 1882
- Description
- This hand-made tool was used for holding the pitch (tar) used for paying (caulking) the deck seams on a wooden whaling ship. Made from a whelk shell attached to a short, wooden stick, the dipper was displayed at the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London. The dipper was given to the exhibition by Lawrence & Co., a whaling, sealing, and commercial firm in New London, Connecticut.
- The United States’ portion of the display was organized by the U.S. Fish Commission and included a wealth of gear, models, photographs, fishery products, and everyday objects used by American fishermen. The international exhibition was on view between May 12 and November 1, during which a daily average of 18,545 people toured the buildings and grounds. When the exhibition closed, the collections that represented the United States were sent to the Smithsonian Institution and a catalog was published: Descriptive Catalogues of the Collections Sent from the United States to the International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883, Constituting A Report Upon the American Section. Prepared under the direction of G. Brown Goode, U.S. Commissioner, and a staff of associates. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1884.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.056875
- catalog number
- 56875
- accession number
- 12328
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Whaler's Blubber Fork
- Description
- Once a whale was killed and its blubber was cut up and hauled aboard the ship for processing, the chunks of flesh were moved around the slippery vessel with long-handled, two-tined blubber forks. These forks were used to pitch the pieces of minced blubber into the hot try-pots to boil it down into oil. The long handles prevented sore backs from too much bending over and protected the men from getting too close to the boiling oil.
- date made
- mid-1800s
- ID Number
- AG.055818
- catalog number
- 055818
- accession number
- 012285
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Whaler's Harpoon with Toggle Head
- Description
- The first step in catching a whale was throwing at least two sharp harpoons into its back, to ensure that the whaleboat was securely fastened to its prey. Harpoon shafts were made of soft wrought iron, so that they would bend and not break off when twisted, which risked losing the wounded whale.
- A line at the bottom of the harpoon’s wooden handle attached it to the whaleboat. Once in the whale’s flesh, the sharp toggle tip swiveled sideways, making it harder for the tip of the weapon to pull out. Whales normally dove deep after the first prick, to try and escape the sharp jab from the surface of the ocean. This harpoon shaft was twisted by a descending whale.
- date made
- 1882
- maker
- D. & D.
- ID Number
- AG.056237
- catalog number
- 056237
- accession number
- 012284
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Dory Scoop, 1880s
- Description
- Scoops and bailers are essential tools for fishermen who work out of small boats. Water inevitably finds its way into vessels and bailing becomes a frequent but necessary chore. This scoop, carved out of one piece of wood, was used prior to 1883 by cod fishermen from Gloucester, Massachusetts, to bail out their dories.
- Small, flat-bottomed dories were not used in the American commercial cod fishery until after 1850, when trawl-line fishing expanded. Dories were ideal for the purpose: they could be nested together on the deck of the larger, fishing schooner until needed. On the water, they were light and easy to handle, as well as stable. When fishing long trawl lines, fishermen would leave the relative comforts of the schooners to work in pairs as dorymates. Because they were away from the schooners for many hours, the fishermen carried provisions and gear in the dories, including water, food, oars, a mast and sail, anchors, buoys and markers, several trawl tubs, pen boards for holding the fish, several scoops and bailers, fog horns, a compass, and more.
- This dory scoop was displayed at the 1883 International Fisheries Exhibition in London. The United States’ portion of the display was organized by the U.S. Fish Commission and included a wealth of gear, models, photographs, fishery products, and everyday objects used by American fishermen. The international exhibition was on view between May 12 and November 1, during which a daily average of 18,545 people toured the buildings and grounds. When the exhibition closed, the collections that represented the United States were sent to the Smithsonian Institution and a catalog was published: Descriptive Catalogues of the Collections Sent from the United States to the International Fisheries Exhibition, London, 1883, Constituting A Report Upon the American Section. Prepared under the direction of G. Brown Goode, U.S. Commissioner, and a staff of associates. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1884.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.025222
- catalog number
- 025222
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Whaler's Monkey Belt
- Description
- After a whale was captured and killed, its carcass was towed by the whaleboat to the side of the mother ship for processing. Cutting up the whale was done by crewmen standing on a wooden plank, or cutting stage, rigged out over the side of the ship so that they could stand directly over the body. Crewmen used this canvas “monkey belt” to secure themselves while they stripped the whale of its blubber. It was dangerous and slippery work. If a sailor slid into the water he risked drowning or being attacked by sharks looking for an easy meal.
- date made
- 1883
- ID Number
- AG.057716
- catalog number
- 057716
- accession number
- 2009.0184
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Whalebone Thimble Eye
- Description
- This rope-strapped thimble carved from whalebone would have had a light rope through the eye for rigging, perhaps on a whaleboat.
- These miniature items also served as children’s toys or curiosities back home. Toys in the form of miniature working ship parts were easy and quick for sailors to carve, and they did not require much skill to make. They also served as potent reminders of where and what the men were doing during their long absences from their friends and families.
- date made
- 1800s
- ID Number
- AG.025801
- catalog number
- 025801
- accession number
- 2009.0182
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner’s Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This canvas mining cap has a red plastic brim with a metal and cardboard lamp bracket. There is a handwritten inscription on the top of the hat that reads: Harrisburg, Pa. / January 17, 1939 / Inaguration oF / Aurthur H. James. Underneath that inscription is a variety of handwritten names: John / Ethel / Frank / Tessie / Francess / Emily. The sides of the cap have the words “JAMES/LUZERNE COUNTY” in large printed letters. A red and white sticker on the lamp bracket reads “JOHN / GAVENONIS / 127 / PIERCE ST. / PLY. PA.” The signatures on this mining cap speak to the personal connections miner’s had with their cap. A miner chose their headgear, and took it with them to work where it was worn all day and used for decades.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-9405
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-9405
- accession number
- 271417
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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Miner's Cap
- Description (Brief)
- This canvas miner’s cap has a leather brim, with a leather and metal lamp bracket attached to the front. The lamp bracket could have held either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp. Two blue stripes encircle the cap. Canvas caps provided minor protection from bumps, but mainly allowed the miner to hang a lamp from the cap, insuring a portable light source close to the work.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7730
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7730
- accession number
- 234625
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Helmet
- Description (Brief)
- This plastic mining helmet was made during the 20th century. The dark black helmet has a metal and leather lamp bracket on its front. The bracket likely held either an oil-wick lamp or a carbide lamp.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7929
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7929
- accession number
- 237120
- 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-8097C
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8097C
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This Model "K" lamp was manufactured in 1931 by the Edison Storage Battery Company. The Edison Cap 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 its entrance into the battery was protected by a flexible steel cover. The battery could power the six-candlepower lamps for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-7874
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-7874
- accession number
- 240639
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
-
Miner's Electric Cap Lamp
- Description (Brief)
- This battery-powered cap lamp was manufactured by Oldham and Sons, of Denton, Manchester, U.K in the early 20th century. The battery is encased in metal and the cord connects the battery to the lamp, which was worn on a mining cap. Oldham was originally a general engineering firm, founded in 1865, but began producing mining products in 1887.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MN-8035
- catalog number
- MHI-MN-8035
- accession number
- 236603
- 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 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 lamps for 12 hours and was recharged at the end of a miner’s shift. This lamp has an added cord for plugging into an electric outlet.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- ID Number
- AG.MHI-MT-002683B
- catalog number
- MHI-MT-002683B
- accession number
- 115674
- Data Source
- National Museum of American History
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