In addition to a lifetime of dreaming, our elm bark canoe project followed a great deal of study and research into 17th and 18th century descriptions, images, and material culture related to this unique watercraft. After the initial research was completed, all of the materials, elm bark, ash timber, basswood bark, and spruce pitch, were gathered by Eric and/or Ward on Eric's property in Otsego County NY between May 2014 and the completion of the project in May of 2015.

Many thanks to TJ for the extra set of eyes and competent hands during the "build before the storm".

Click here for:
[Photos of the finished canoe in use]

If you have a large elm that you think might be suitable and would like made into a functional historic watercraft, or you would like to have us come to your site to display our canoe for education or historic interpretive programs, please contact us for details.