Canoes: A Natural History in North America

John Webber, Tereoboo, King of Owyhee, bringing presents to Capt. Cook.

Frederic Remington illustration of a Rushton American Traveling Canoe.

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

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

Roy Roy canoe, as illustrated by Nathaniel Bishop in his Voyage of the Paper Canoe, published in 1878.

Nautilus canoe, as illustrated by Nathaniel Bishop in his Voyage of the Paper Canoe, published in 1878.

Maria Theresa canoe, as illustrated by Nathaniel Bishop in his Voyage of the Paper Canoe, published in 1878. Bishop paddled 2,500 miles in Maria Theresa.

An 1881 gathering of canoeists on Canoe Island in Lake George, New York.

Walter Stewart sails Pearl at the American Canoe Association meeting in 1886. Stewart was an admirer of American-built canoes.

Bob Lavertue in command of the late 19th century all-wood sailing canoe Pretty Jane at the Wooden Canoe Heritage Association assembly at Paul Smith’s, New York, in 2012.

American Canoe Association founding member William Alden and his original canoe Shadow at the ACA gathering on Lake George in 1881.

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.

An all-wood decked sailing canoe with a double sail rig on display at the Antique Boat Museum in Clayton, New York.

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.

Lateen sail design illustration by Todd Bradshaw for an Old Town wood-and-canvas canoe.

A Rushton batwing sailing canoe in front with a lateen-rigged sailing canoe behind it.