History

• The first known canoes were called dugouts. These simple canoes were made from one piece of wood or log. The wood was hollowed out on one side by chopping out the larger portions, then smoothing the canoe with more delicate tools. Another form of making a dugout was to carefully burn the wood away in the center of the log then gently scrape away the excess.
  
  

Types

• The methods Indians used for making canoes evolved from the simple dugout to more complex bark and skin-covered canoes. Since these canoes were lighter, Indians were able to make them bigger to hold more people and trade goods. The lighter frame also made it possible to carry the canoes overland to the next waterway.
  
  

Size

• Canoes were made in a variety of sizes. Smaller vessels for two to four people were used for local hunting trips and short travels. The larger canoes could hold 20 people or more. These larger canoes were used for expeditions, long-distance travel and trading.
  
  

Features

• Bark canoes were made with whatever wood was readily available in an area. Birch bark canoes are the most commonly known canoe in North America. The canoes were built by using large strips of pliable wood as a frame. The Indians then peeled the bark from indigenous trees, like birch. The bark was then soaked to avoid cracking while they applied it to the wooden frame. The bark was held together with threads made from plants and tree sap was used to make the canoe watertight.
  
  

Function

• Canoes are propelled by flat-sided paddles, which can be single- or double-bladed. For a single-manned craft, the person would sit near the center of the boat and alternate paddling on each side to propel the canoe. With larger canoes, there were usually a number of people paddling on each side with a person in the rear using his paddle as a rudder to steer the canoe and keep it on course.
  
  

Significance

• Settlers who came to America were quick to adopt the canoe as a fast form of transportation. Canoes were particularly popular with fur traders and trappers as it enabled them to travel swiftly to other trade settlements along rivers.