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Canoes: A Natural History in North America

Mark Neuzil and Norman Sims

Overview

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

Citable Link

Published: 2016

Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

ISBN(s)

9780816681174 (hardcover)

Subject

Resources

Filtering by: Keyword Grumman

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A black-and-white portrait of Leroy Grumman paddling an aluminum canoe.

Leroy Grumman

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

Leroy Grumman is an important name in the history of canoeing due to his company’s development of the aluminum canoe as a way to keep his factories busy after the second world war.

A color photograph of an aluminum Grumman canoe on the water.

Grumman Canoes

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

Grumman canoes, because of their low cost and nearly maintenance-free existence, became a common choice of canoe liveries by the 1950s.

A color photograph of Bill Mason and his family paddling an aluminum canoe through rapids.

Bill Mason

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

The Canadian artist and author Bill Mason did as much to popularize recreational canoeing as anyone.

A color photograph of Homer Dodge and Margaret Wing Dodge paddling an aluminum canoe.

Homer Dodge

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

Homer Dodge, with his wife and frequent canoeing companion Margaret Wing Dodge, helped popularize canoeing in the United States; he was sponsored by Grumman for a time.

A large pile of Alumnacraft canoes in front of an old wooden warehouse.

Alumacraft

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

In 1967, Minnesota-based Alumacraft (shown here as Aluma Craft Apex Co.) was apparently shoveling canoes out the door as fast as they could be produced.

A black-and-white photograph of Grumman canoes loaded on a truck.

Shipment of Aluminum Canoes

From Chapter 6: Synthetic Canoes

Grumman shipped canoes by truck, among other means, to retailers large and small across the United States from its plant on Long Island.