History through material culture.
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Packboard- Chilkoot Trail, U.S. / Canada (Video)
Packing was one of the last indigenous controlled industries before the Klondike Gold Rush.
Cherokee Syllabary Typeset- Washington County, AR
Indigenous linguist, Sequoyah, developed the syllabary writing system to communicate with families affected by 30 years of Cherokee removal.
19th C. Footlocker Trunk- Carlisle Indian Industrial School, PA
Carlisle Indian Industrial School was the first federally funded boarding school designed to assimilate Native American children.
Weeden Island Effigy Vessel- McKeithen Site, FL
Two thirds of Weeden Island effigy vessels are decorated with bird effigies, mostly owls and ducks.
Bone Flutes- Fort Ancient Settlement, OH
Archaeologists examine prehistoric bone flutes to understand the connection between hole placement and sound.
Poverty Point Objects- Poverty Point, LA
These objects are called Poverty Point Objects (or “PPO’s”) because thousands were found at the archaeological site, but no one is certain of their function.
Wig Curler- Stafford County, VA (3D)
Although George Washington did not wear a wig, over 200 wig curlers were found at his Ferry Farm home in Stafford County, Virginia.
Pennsylvania Long Rifle- Lancaster, PA (Video)
Lancaster County, PA had a long tradition of producing long rifles, but failed to make enough muskets for the American Revolutionary War.
Colonial Powder Horn- Ft. William Henry, NY
This powder horn was designed by John Bush, a Black provincial soldier who almost survived the siege at Fort William Henry.
18th Century Spring Lancet- Mansfield, CT
Doctors John Hunter and Benjamin Rush championed bloodletting as a cure for inflammation, however, opinions varied as to how often it should be done in a single day.
Colt 1851 Navy Revolver- Hartford, CT (3D)
With the Colt 1851 Navy, soldiers had the advantage of shooting six rounds continuously rather than loading one round at a time.
Atocha Silver Cup- Marquesas, FL (3D)
In 1622, the Spanish treasure galleon Nuestra Señora de Atocha (Our Lady of Atocha) set sail for Spain laden with gold, silver, copper, emeralds, pearls, and other trade goods from Spanish colonies.
Italian Chalkware Cat- Winterthur, DE
This Italian figurinai, gatto lucchesi, was one of the most popular chalkware collectables in the 19th and 20th century.
19th Century Tin Cup- Latimer Mine, PA
The cup's bullet hole is a result of the Latimer Mine Massacre- one of the worst attacks against union mine workers.
German Tobacco Pipe- New Orleans, LA
Archaeologists discover this pipe fragment near a New Orleans residence occupied by German immigrants.
Father Mathew Temperance Teacup- Five Points, NY
Father Theobald Mathew is seen delivering “the pledge”- a mid 19th century temperance movement that discriminated against Irish immigrants.
Miner's Teapot Lamp- Nova Scotia, Canada
Miners attached oil lamps in front of their caps to improve visibility.
Osnaburg Fabric Apron- Charleston, SC
In 1735, South Carolina passed a Act outlawing enslaved Africans to wear any garment greater than the value of “negro cloth”.
Woodville Rosenwald School Desk- Gloucester County, VA
Despite the initial terms for funding a Rosenwald School, Gloucester’s African American community chose to raise the remaining the budget themselves and rather than accept contributions from the White school board.
18th C. Cufflinks- Montpelier Plantation, VA
In Colonial America, men with means enhanced their buckles, buttons and cufflinks with paste jewelry.