General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History . on-tiguous to the Eastern Woodlands on thesouth, the latter on the northwest. The wholeof the Eastern Woodland area was in forestand extended westward from the Atlanticcoast almost to the Mississippi River. Objectsin the cases show that these Indians lived inthe forest. The materials they used camefrom the forest, and this fact influenced theirhouses, tools, weapons, clothing, and orna-ments, so that they are readily distinguishedfrom those of other areas. These forest Indians were primarily hunt-ers and fisherme
General guide to the exhibition halls of the American Museum of Natural History . on-tiguous to the Eastern Woodlands on thesouth, the latter on the northwest. The wholeof the Eastern Woodland area was in forestand extended westward from the Atlanticcoast almost to the Mississippi River. Objectsin the cases show that these Indians lived inthe forest. The materials they used camefrom the forest, and this fact influenced theirhouses, tools, weapons, clothing, and orna-ments, so that they are readily distinguishedfrom those of other areas. These forest Indians were primarily hunt-ers and fishermen, but wild rice and maplesugar were staple foods. Agriculture waspracticed where the climate permitted, andcorn, beans, squash, tobacco, etc., wereraised. (See miniature dioramas at north sideof hall.) Their woodland environment ledto various simple industries naturally de-pendent upon the raw materials that were athand and adaptable to their daily needs. Wood was used for canoes, mortars,spoons, bowls, dishes, houses, and woodsplint baskets. Bark of various kinds was a l^-ll. USE OF BIRCH BARK AMONG THE EASTERN INDIANS (From a miniature group in the Woodland Indians Hall) favorite material. For example, the birch-hark industry, as shown in the model illus-trated above, is exemplified by containers andornaments in many of the cases. Bark likethat of the basswood tree was also shreddedto make the fiber for weaving bags. Skins were originally used for costumes,but cloth was often bought from whitetraders. Many wild plants and trees furnishedfiber from which these Indians made good string and cord for making fish-nets andweaving bags. Every well-furnished homorequired mats for the floor and for sleeping,as shown in the group pictured below . Climate influences the ways of life. In thishall, the tribes represent a range from near-Arctic Canada to sub-tropical Florida. Theirclothing varies from fur garments amongthe Dene and the Cree, to thin dresses ofcommercial cloth among the Se
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade191, booksubjectnaturalhistorymuseums
