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Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Mark Neuzil and Norman Sims

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This is the story of the canoe, that singular American artifact so little changed over time. Featured here are canoes old and new, from birch bark to dugout to carbon fiber; the people who made them; and the adventures they shared. With features of technology, industry, art, and survival, the canoe carries us deep into the natural and cultural history of North America.

Follow author Mark Neuzil on Twitter: @mrneuzil

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Published: 2016

Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

ISBN(s)

9780816681174 (hardcover)

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Myron Nickerson, a former employee of J. Henry Rushton appears on the far right in this 1894 photograph. Nickerson’s livery on the Grasse River in Canton, New York, offered rentals of Adirondack guideboats, Rushton-style pleasure rowboats, small skiffs, and canoes. Nickerson holds a double-bladed canoe paddle in a boat that has also been fitted with non-feathering guideboat-style oars.

Myron Nickerson

From Introduction

Myron Nickerson, a former employee of J. Henry Rushton appears on the far right in this 1894 photograph.

Dr. Arpad Gerster, a prominent New York surgeon, vacationed with his family in the Adirondacks during the 1890s. Here, Gerster portages a Rushton pack canoe at Camp Oteetiwi, Big Island, Raquette Lake.

Dr. Arpad Gerster

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Dr. Arpad Gerster, a prominent New York surgeon, vacationed with his family in the Adirondacks during the 1890s. Here, Gerster portages a Rushton pack canoe at Camp Oteetiwi, Big Island, Raquette Lake.

A black-and-white portrait of Leah and J. Henry Rushton around 1884.

Leah and J. Henry Rushton

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Leah and J. Henry Rushton around 1884.

The Sairy Gamp on display at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York.

Sairy Gamp

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

The Sairy Gamp on display at the Adirondack Museum in Blue Mountain Lake, New York.

An illustrated catalog listing for the Nessmuk.

Nessmuk

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

J. Henry Rushton listed the Nessmuk in his 1907 catalog under the heading, “Feather-Weight Canoes.”

A color photograph of the Wee Lassie.

Wee Lassie

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

The Wee Lassie canoe was made in 1893 by J. H. Rushton for William West Durant of Raquette Lake, New York.

Frederic Remington illustration of a Rushton American Traveling Canoe.

American Traveling Canoe

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Frederic Remington illustration of a Rushton American Traveling Canoe.

A photograph of the Grasse River sweeping by the Rushton Boat Shop, the white building at back left, during a flood in 1885.

Grasse River

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

The Grasse River sweeps by the Rushton Boat Shop, the white building at back left, during a flood in 1885.

This Rushton pack canoe, displayed at the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, was one of many lightweight small boats he made for hunters and sportsmen.

Rushton Pack Canoe

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

This Rushton pack canoe, displayed at the Wisconsin Canoe Heritage Museum, was one of many lightweight small boats he made for hunters and sportsmen.

This craft was built ca. 1881–83 and is probably the oldest American-built decked sailing canoe in existence.

Lapstrake Canoe

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

This craft was built ca. 1881–83 and is probably the oldest American-built decked sailing canoe in existence.

A color photograph of a decked sailing canoe dated 1882–85 owned by the Adirondack Museum.

Decked Sailing Canoe

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

A decked sailing canoe dated 1882–85 owned by the Adirondack Museum.

The St. Lawrence Canoe Club tent at the ACA meeting on Grindstone Island in 1886. J. H. Rushton is the short, bearded man standing in the center; his wife Leah is seated next to him.

St. Lawrence Canoe Club

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

The St. Lawrence Canoe Club tent at the ACA meeting on Grindstone Island in 1886. J. H. Rushton is the short, bearded man standing in the center; his wife Leah is seated next to him.

In this photograph titled “The Canoe, The Cup and The Captor,” R. W. Gibson poses with the International Challenge Cup, which he won in the Rushton Vesper that he had designed, August 26, 1885.

The Canoe, the Cup, and the Captor

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

In this photograph titled “The Canoe, The Cup and The Captor,” R. W. Gibson poses with the International Challenge Cup, which he won in the Rushton Vesper that he had designed, August 26, 1885.

Rushton and his staff pose for a photograph outside the three-story boat shop in Canton, New York, ca. 1880s.

Rushton and Staff

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Rushton and his staff pose for a photograph outside the three-story boat shop in Canton, New York, ca. 1880s.

Two Nomad decked sailing canoes under construction at the Rushton boat shop, ca. 1900.

Nomad Sailing Canoes

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

Two Nomad decked sailing canoes under construction at the Rushton boat shop, ca. 1900.

J. H. Rushton poses with his Stella Maris model canoe outside his new boat shop in 1882.

Stella Maris

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

J. H. Rushton poses with his Stella Maris model canoe outside his new boat shop in 1882.

A postcard advertising the J. H. Rushton canoe exhibit at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893.

Rushton at the Columbian Exposition

From Chapter 4: All-Wood Canoes

A postcard advertising the J. H. Rushton canoe exhibit at the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893.

Workers at the Rushton Boat Shop in 1905. J. Henry Rushton stands at the lower left.

Rushton Workers

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Workers at the Rushton Boat Shop in 1905. J. Henry Rushton stands at the lower left.

Planking is applied to a pair of Indian Girl canoes in the Rushton Boat Shop, early 20th century.

Indian Girl Construction

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Planking is applied to a pair of Indian Girl canoes in the Rushton Boat Shop, early 20th century.

A black-and-white photograph of Rushton Indian Girl canoes in the sanding room, ca. 1908.

Sanding Room, Rushton Boat Shop

From Chapter 5: Wood-and-Canvas Canoes

Rushton Indian Girl canoes in the sanding room, ca. 1908.