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.
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.
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”.
Minié Ball- Pea Ridge National Military Park, AR
Over one hundred .58-caliber minié balls were recovered throughout Pea Ridge, Arkansas, proving the use of military grade arms along the Western front of the Civil War.
19th Century Carving Fork- Nashville, TN
This carving fork was found at Andrew Jackson’s Hermitage Plantation. Two of the tines hold the meat in place, while the third “tine” is most likely a hand guard.
Louis Riel’s Handcuffs- Saskatchewan, Canada
These handcuffs were used to restrain Louis Riel, Métis resistance fighter, prior to his execution in 1885.
Mahjong Tiles - Halifax, NC
Mahjong originated as a gambling game in mid-to-late 1800s China and spread to a limited number of foreigners via trade routes.
Hardee Hat Pin - Tucson, AZ
This hat pin, found at the former site of Fort Lowell in Tucson, AZ, comes from the regulation Hardee hat for Union soldiers during the American Civil War.
Slate Pencil- Boston, MA
This slate pencil likely belonged to a Boston schoolchild in the 1800s. They were commonly used in schoolhouses for writing and math exercises before paper became widely available.
Western Riding Spur- Miner's Delight, WY
Miner’s Delight was a small, isolated mining town accessible by horseback.
Stone Ring Poi Pounder-Kaua‘i, HI
Poi is a starchy, purple pudding that has been a staple of the Kānaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) diet for generations. Pestles, like the ring pounder (or pōhaku kuʻi ʻai), were originally used to mash taro root into poi pudding.
Porcupine Quill Basket- Nova Scotia, Canada
The Mi’kmaq typically used porcupine quills to embellish baskets, clothing and other trade items.
Chinese Wen- Terrace, UT
This 300 year old coin reflects the unique traditions of Chinese rail workers during the late 19th century.
Bennington Door Knob- Baltimore, MD (3D)
Bennington door knobs were a popular alternative to plain ceramic or pressed-glass knobs in the late 1800s.