Basket Making, Free images of New Mexico
Five reenactors making birch bark baskets using black spruce root to stitch them together.
Creamware Bowl Fragment - GRPO 12886
This bowl fragment represents the most complete creamware vessel in the Grand Portage National Monument collection. It measures 7.3 cm high with an outside rim diameter of 16.0 cm. The outside diameter of the b... More
Leather Buckets, Free images of New Mexico
Two leather buckets filled with water near a fire ring.
Birch Bark Container with Decorative Quillwork - GRPO 17091
Cylindrical birch bark container decorated with dyed quillwork floral design on lid and side walls. The container and lid are both sewn with split and peeled black spruce root. Bark scalloping reinforces bottom... More
Leather Buckets, Free images of New Mexico
Leather buckets made by sewing the pail and handle and connecting them together using metal rings.
Decorated Birch Bark Container - GRPO 1172
Works Progress Administration (WPA) project slightly conical-shaped container with floral quillwork design. The container is sewn with black spruce root seams and stands 14 cm high with a maximum diameter of 14 cm.
Salt Glaze Stoneware Tobacco Jar - GRPO 12685
This fully intact wheel-thrown salt glaze stoneware tobacco jar measures 10.0 cm high with a diameter at the base of 7.7 cm.
Birch Bark Basket - GRPO 17166 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Octagonal birch bark basket sewn with bulrush fiber at seams. Top of basket is reinforced with ash wood splint and sewn with basswood fiber dyed dark brown. The vessel stands 6 cm tall with a maximum diameter of 18 cm.
Buckets Made of Leather? - A couple of black boots sitting on top of a...
The pails and handles of the leather buckets have been stitched and assembled into one using metals rings.
Birch Bark Basket - GRPO 16178 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Small, tray-shaped birch bark basket with rim reinforced by split and peeled black spruce root. Seams and rim are secured by basswood bark fibers. The vessel measures 25.3 cm long, 23.5 cm wide, and stands 9.0 cm tall.
Cooking Demonstration in Kitchen
A participant displays foods being prepared and references used in the kitchen.
Caulking or Pitch Kit - GRPO 17201
One of the daily tasks of the voyageurs upon pulling their canoes ashore after a long day of paddling was to inspect the seams of their birch bark vessels and make any necessary repairs. Spruce gum, pictured he... More
Birch Bark Container with Etched Design - GRPO 17210
Decoratively etched floral pattern on birch bark makuk with fitted lid and seams stitched with basswood fiber. The makuk measures 25.0 cm long, 15.5 cm wide, and stands 24.0 cm tall with the cover.
Decorative Birch Bark Basket - GRPO 1217
Works Progress Administration (WPA) project small conical birch bark container with etched floral design. Black spruce root seams are used for side walls and reinforcing rim. The container stands 8 cm tall with... More
Cartouche Knife Handle - GRPO 12614
Cast brass filigree-patterned cartouche knife handle with trace amounts of thinly transparent organic material backing, likely horn. The handle measures 9.7 cm long. The 1797 inventory records 108 cartouche kn... More
Beaded Belt - GRPO 1206 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Works Progress Administration (WPA) project beaded belt on tanned buckskin measuring 107 cm long and 9 cm wide. The piece with its decorative floral design contains a total of nearly 9,000 glass beads and consi... More
Beaded Moccasins - GRPO 1563 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gal...
Pair or pucker toe beaded leather moccasins with decorative floral design enclosed within white, blue, red, and yellow beaded border on vamps. Leather ankle wraps have scalloped or sawtooth edging.
Beaded Moccasins - GRPO 1565 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gal...
Pair of pucker toe beaded leather moccasins with identical geometric design featuring white, yellow, maroon, and black beads on vamps and lower collars. Additional beadwork on vamps contains diagonal lines of t... More
Cast White Metal Button with radial design - GRPO 14889
Late 18th century cast white metal button with radial design; crudely-shaped eye molded to back; 1.7 cm diameter
Pistol-Grip Handle - GRPO 15375
One half of a hollow, pistol-grip style utensil handle, cast of white metal. This example measures 8.9 cm long and 1.9 cm wide. Pistol grip handles, introduced in the early 18th century, were commonly made of b... More
Folding Knife - GRPO 17585 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
Folding knife probably British, late 18th century.
Hawk Bell - GRPO 14419 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Hawk bells were originally used as part of falconry equipment Europe before being utilized as fur trade goods when they were introduced to North America in the 16th century. This 18th century example is made of... More
Clasp Knife Blade - GRPO 17785 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Clasp knife blade with hinge element, rivet pin, and marked with three characters, "- (V) (I)". This knife bears the registered mark of William Parker, a Sheffield knife maker, active from 1739 to circa 1784. ... More
Case Knife - GRPO 17802 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Case knife French or British, 18th century.
Pocket Watch - GRPO 1425 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Hollow shaft key used for winding watch; late 18th century
Hand Forged Iron Hammer - GRPO 8228
This hand-forged hammer may have been used by the North West Company blacksmith at the Grand Portage depot in the late 18th century. The tool is bent to form an eye for accommodating a handle and measures 11.1 ... More
Cast White Metal Button - GRPO 14887
Late 18th century cast white metal button with concentric circle design; eye molded to back face; diameter 1.7 cm.
Bear and Raccoon Please the Crowd
The 18th century puppet show is popular with participants and visitors.
Rectangular Shoe Buckle Frame - GRPO 12697
Late 18th century brass and white metal rectangular shoe buckle frame with incised lines along perimeter
Folding Knife - GRPO 17587 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
One of the most popular knives in the second half of the 18th century, this example features a slightly tapered handle with rounded end. Four iron pins are present on back edge of the handle. This knife, recove... More
Round Cupreous Cufflinks - GRPO 14404
This pair of cupreous cufflinks, known as sleeve buttons in the 18th century, features a nautical design with a face diameter of 1.6 cm
Case Knife Blade - GRPO 13653 - Public Domain image, National Parks Ga...
A case knife blade with vertical maker's mark that resembles a four-lobed crown over a robust numeral "2" is broken through the first rivet hole of its drooping tang. Many cutler marks incorporating crowns appe... More
Ice Chisel - GRPO 17766 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Chisels like the one featured here were essential tools in the late 18th century fur trade. Ice chisels were often attached to long wooden handles and used to penetrate through the ice to create holes for fishi... More
Case Knife - GRPO 17800 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Case knife probably French or British, 18th century.
Clasp Knife - GRPO 16589 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Knife blade possibly of cutler Jean Tivet French 1730-1750.
Clasp Knife - GRPO 16921 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Clasp knife blade, probably French, 1730-1750.
Survey of the River St. Johns from Fort Frederick in the Bay of Fundy ...
Scale not given. Manuscript, pen-and-ink and watercolor. Has watermarks. Available also through the Library of Congress Web site as a raster image. Vault AACR2
Jesuit Style Ring - GRPO 14712 - Public domain portrait engraving
Jesuit style brass ring with octagonal plaque (11.7 mm by 12.4 mm) engraved "IM" and bordered by a rocker-stamp pattern. This was probably cast as a single unit. In the western Great Lakes, Jesuit rings are str... More
Brass Pendant with Glass Insets - GRPO 14710
A cast, soft brass, tri-lobed pendant frame with four blue-green (Munsell 10BG 6/8) faceted, faux gem glass insets. Round insets in outer lobes, and square inset at center. Sets are bracketed by relief floral p... More
Razor - GRPO 14959 - National Parks Gallery
Razor blade stamped ACIER-FOND (“steel edge”) over the cutting edge near the spine. The tang is stamped, G.SMITH, the mark of Georgius Smith, a Sheffield razor-maker active in the mid-1770s. The brass pivot pin... More
Silver Bracelet - GRPO 4831 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Silver bracelet etched with lines and perforated at ends for cord attachment bearing the stamp “RC” for Robert Cruickshank. Born in England, Cruickshank immigrated first to Boston in 1767 and then moved to Mont... More
Case Knife - GRPO 16968 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Case knife w/Cross & L stamp, British, 1780-1830.
Silver Moon - GRPO 16948 - Public domain engraving
Moon, concave engraved silver disk with maker's mark "NR" and two buttons on either side near the top center of the disk. The buttons have eye holes on the back to attach to a chain or fastener. The disk has an... More
Copper Fishtail Kettle Lug - GRPO 8082
Decorative copper fishtail-design kettle lug measuring 6.8 cm long, 5.2 cm wide, and 0.3 cm thick. This style of kettle ear dates to approximately 1800 for English kettles, just near the end of the North West C... More
White Cedar Paddle Fragment - GRPO 16122
White cedar paddle blade, Ottertail-style with rounded tip, part of lower shaft, and dihedral cross-section. This is the most complete and best preserved paddle blade in Grand Portage National Monument's collec... More
Harmonica Plate - GRPO 12707 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gal...
Copper alloy harmonica plate with ten rectangular reed slots, and an equal number of corresponding reed attachment holes arranged in a straight line along one greater margin. This example recovered during arche... More
Mackinaw Boat, Free images of New Mexico
The Paul LaPlante is a replica Mackinaw sailboat used by fishermen on Lake Superior in the mid-late 1800 and early 1900s.
Wool Assomption Sash - GRPO 525
Arrow and lightning pattern fingerwoven sash (mid-19th century) consisting of 515 threads woven in 1,089 rows. There are 19 color zones present. The woven length of the wool sash is 227.3 cm, the length of th... More
Brass Trade Ring - GRPO 14703 - Public Domain image, National Parks Ga...
Plain band with crude markings scratched on inner surface. The ring diameter measures 1.9 cm. Similar bands with interior markings are reported at the 1792-1800 NWC site of Fort George in Alberta and the circa ... More
Canoe Sail Toggle - GRPO 13997 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
The use of sails in birch bark canoes is depicted in Frances Anne Hopkins' 1869 painting entitled "Voyageurs on Lake Superior" and is mentioned in the journals of fur traders. They were often rigged with line... More
Cedar Bark Bag - GRPO 1190 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
Diagonal weave cedar strip bark bag filled with roll of birch bark and sewn closed with black spruce root. Strips present in weave are natural color. The bag stands 40 cm tall, 27 cm wide, and 9 cm thick.
Bone Game - GRPO 1500 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Bone game piece composed of leather tab with three rows of circular holes, round and flat bone disk with nine holes around encircling edge, ten deer dew claws, and bone needle all attached by a leather cord. Th... More
Renezvous Days Canoe Arrival Ceremony
About 12 voyageurs preparing to land their canoe on the shore of Grand Portage Bay.
Grand Portage Corridor - National Parks Gallery
The Grand Portage Corridor goes through the thick woods of the area. In the late 1790s the path was the highway to northwestern Canada. Every summer voyageurs carried tons of furs down the path and tons of tr... More
National Parks of Minnesota - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Well hello there! Minnesoooota is next on our road-trip across the parks of the Midwest, dontcha know? There’s no place like this Upper Midwestern state. The land of ten thousand lakes (though it actually has 1... More
Birchbark Makuk - GRPO 17156 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gal...
Embroidered Ojibwe floral designs 1930-60. Public domain photograph of primitivism, folk art, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Wrought Iron Hoe - GRPO 9925 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gal...
This wrought iron hoe was recovered during the 1936 excavations of the North West Company depot in Grand Portage. The 1797 inventory records 24 of these tools at the depot in June of that year, possibly destine... More
Keyhole Escutcheon - GRPO 9932 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Square-shaped iron sheet metal keyhole escutcheon with rectangular holes adjacent to central opening for mounting to furniture. The escutcheon measures 6.2 cm high by 5.3 cm wide. This piece was recovered durin... More
Hinged Iron Hasp Fragment - GRPO 9770
This iron sheet metal butterfly hinged hasp measures 8.5 cm long by 3.5 cm wide. It was recovered during the first year of archeological investigations of the North West Company depot at Grand Portage in 1936.
Iron Pintle - GRPO 9930 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Hand-forged iron pintle with flared distal end shank containing three perforations to be secured by screws or nails. This piece, which was recovered by archeologists in 1936, measures 6.8 cm long and is 8.0 cm ... More
Photograph of Chief Medicine Man of Chippewa Indians Axel Pasey with H...
Original caption: Chief Medicine Man of Chippewa Indians & family. Axel Pasey (Mqy-maush-kow sush) wife and daughter, Helen. Photo taken at Grand Portage, Minn., courtesy of Herald-Tribune newspapers of Duluth,... More
Keyhole Escutcheon - GRPO 8342 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
This degraded iron sheet metal keyhole escutcheon was recovered during the initial archeological investigations of the North West Company depot in 1936-37. It has an oval shaped top and accommodates a flared bo... More
Bucket Fragment with Spanish Brown Paint - GRPO 8723
Round bottom of bucket containing soil deposition and remnants of Spanish Brown paint, thought to be the original contents of the container. Clerk John Macdonnell writes of the North West Company depot at Grand... More
Flintlock - GRPO 500 - National Parks Gallery
Flintlock excavated from the North West Company depot area in 1937. This piece is likely from a North West Trade Gun complete with frizzen, pan, gooseneck hammer, bridle, tumbler, and main, sear, and frizzen sp... More
Stockade and Tower - National Parks Gallery
Stockade and Tower ; Sept 61 Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrict... More
Wrought Iron Muskrat Spear - GRPO 542
This hand-forged muskrat spear was recovered by archeologists from the Basswood River in 1961. It measures 34 cm long with a 1.2 cm diameter shaft. Barbs are located 7 and 12 cm from sharpened tip.
Wrought Iron Muskrat Spear - GRPO 541
This hand-forged muskrat spear was recovered from the Basswood River in 1961. It measures 34 cm long with a shaft diameter of 1.3 cm.
Padlock - GRPO 166 - National Parks Gallery
Handmade, heart-shaped sheet iron padlock with heavy arched loop. The padlock measures 11.0 cm long, 8.7 cm wide, and 2.3 cm thick. The keyhole is 2.5 cm. This piece was recovered during archeological investig... More
Two-tined Fork - GRPO 427 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
Ferrous metal two-tined fork with squared cross-section tapering to rat tail tang. This piece, measuring 14.0 cm long, was recovered by archeologists during excavations of the North West Company Kitchen in 1970.
Pearlware Bowl Fragment - GRPO 499
Fine ceramics such as the example here illustrates the conspicuous consumption of the gentlemen of North West Company when in the wilderness. These pieces of lead glaze Pearlware are Chinese porcelain bowl frag... More
Ferrous Metal Scissors - GRPO 279
This pair of scissors was recovered during archeological work just south of the Great Hall in 1970. Measuring 15.8 cm long x 5 cm wide, these scissors were likely utilized for textile and/or leather work.
Trade Beads - GRPO 350 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Ninety-three assorted trade beads strung together after being recovered during archeological surveys of the Grand Portage depot area in 1970. White pound beads are the dominant type depicted here, along with tu... More
Pigeon Egg Bead - GRPO 357 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
This large opaque white-colored bead measures 2.8 cm long with a 2.0 cm maximum diameter. This bead was recovered in 1970 during archeological excavations of the North West Company kitchen structure in the Gran... More
Pearlware sherds - GRPO 5121 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gal...
The outer edges from this pearlware plate or platter contain a decorative feathered design with blue tint achieved from cobalt oxide. These fragments were recovered by park archeologists in 1973.
Aerial view,restored fort - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
Aerial view,restored fort Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Grand Portage National Monument
Grand Portage National Monument Public domain photograph by National Parks Administration, nature conservation, tourism, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description
Decorative Birch Bark Makuk with Lid - GRPO 17156
Birch bark makuk with lid constructed from one piece of bark. The vessel is embroidered with colored yarn and engraved with a floral pattern. Container is sewn with split and peeled black spruce root. The maku... More
Double-ended Awl - GRPO 17784 - Public Domain image, National Parks Ga...
Iron awls offered greater advantages over bone tools when it came to penetrating birch bark and leather. This hand-forged, square-cross section double-ended straight iron awl measures 11.4 cm long, 0.4 cm wide,... More
Black Trade Beads - GRPO 14601 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
This assemblage of black-colored glass beads contains three opaque pound beads and fifteen translucent cane beads.
Earthenware Inkwell - GRPO 13243
Earthenware inkwell smudged with ink blotches and fingerprints. The exterior is porous and the interior possesses a thick, brown glaze that encroaches over the top and down the sides of the vessel. The slightly... More
Brass Trade Ring - GRPO 14718 - Public Domain image, National Parks Ga...
The 1797 inventory of goods present at the Grand Portage depot records the presence of 5,472 rings. The majority of those recovered during archeological excavations on monument grounds are plain brass trade rin... More
Horn Comb - GRPO 10742 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gallery
Over 160 horn combs appear on the 1797 North West Company inventory of goods on hand at the Grand Portage depot. This example here measures 6.3 cm long and 3.7 cm tall.
Cast White Metal Button - GRPO 14888
Cast white metal button with decorative facial designs radiating out from center. Eye is molded to back of button; button face diameter is 1.7 cm.
Decorative Cupreous Button - GRPO 14901
Cast cupreous button with raised decorative floral motifs on flat face. The eyes are drilled with rounded ends. The diameter of the button face is 2.7 cm.
Jeweled Brooch - GRPO 17017 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Rectangular-shaped cast non-ferrous metal brooch with diamond-shaped, faceted amethyst colored inset over lattice work frame. Hinged pin on back of piece allows for attachment to garment. The brooch measures 6... More
Bulrush Basket - GRPO 17214 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Cylindrical-shaped bulrush reed container composed of natural fibers and two straight rows of purple dyed rushes, with one oscillating row on the cuff at the top of the basket. The container stands 13.0 cm tall... More
Decorated Birch Bark Container - GRPO 1158
Ornately scratched straight and diagonal lines on deep birch bark container with spruce root seams and reinforcing split root rim. The container measures 40 cm long, 37 cm wide, and 13 cm deep.
Five-Piece Button - GRPO 14897 - Public Domain image, National Parks G...
Five-piece button consisting of white metal facial plate disk with cupreous dome protruding from center, an undecorated white metal back, and beaded and crimped cupreous collar with soft fibrous fill material. ... More
Gun Barrel Hide Scraper - GRPO 8344
S-shaped iron hide scraper with flattened edges fabricated from a gun barrel fragment. This piece serves as a prime example of adaptive reuse by the Ojibwe in the region. If the structural integrity of a gun ba... More
Spun-back Button - GRPO 17592 - coin, public domain photograph
Flat, spun-back non-ferrous metal button with decorative crown. Facial design consists of floral motif with multiple series of variable concentric rings radiating from center to edge of crown. The diameter of... More
Cast White Metal Brooch - GRPO 14434
Circular-shaped cast white metal brooch with stationary crossbar. The brooch diameter is 1.1 cm.
Wound Barrel Beads - GRPO 14669
Pair of black opaque mandrel wound barrel beads each measuring approximately 0.8 cm long with a maximum diameter of 0.4 cm.
Lacrosse Stick - GRPO 17200 - Public Domain image, National Parks Gall...
Hand-carved one-piece construction Ojibwe-style lacrosse stick made from white ash. The leather lacing in the hoop was used to secure the ball during play. The stick measures 81.5 cm long and the maximum width ... More
Oval Firesteel - GRPO 1778 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galle...
Hand-wrought, elongated oval firesteel measuring 8.3 cm long, 3.4 cm wide, and 0.4 cm thick.
Bone Whistle Fragment - GRPO 15108
Hollow bone cylindrical tube whistle with circular hole cut out of the middle on one side. The whistle fragment measures 8.0 cm long and 1.3 cm diameter.
Spun-back Button - GRPO 17593 - coin, public domain photograph
Flat, spun-back non-ferrous metal button with decorative crown. Facial design consists of faintly inscribed concentric rings radiating from center and a series of small lines in a “sunburst” pattern at the edg... More
Photo of Bifacial Blade Tip - GRPO 6941 - Public domain dedication
Prior to the advent of the fur trade, Native Peoples in the Great Lakes Region utilized tools produced from wood, bone, stone, and native copper. One such example of a tool is this bifacial chert blade tip fra... More
Case Knife Blade - GRPO 17617 - Drawing. Public domain image.
Unmarked case knife blade with straight back and partially intact heel wrapped with wire. The knife measures 22.0 cm long.
Chest Handle - GRPO 15938 - Public Domain image, National Parks Galler...
Wrought oval-shaped with rounded cross-section chest handle with blackened, possibly japanned surface and two parallel incised decorative lines on the face at the middle of the bow. A circular disk on the right... More
Transfer-Printed Pearlware Fragment - GRPO 14287
This basal sherd of transfer-printed pearlware documents the use of the familiar blue willow pattern of dinnerware at Grand Portage in the 1790s.