Curator Identifies Native Potlatch Hat’s Added Rings at the Anchorage Museum’s Smithsonian Exhibit
On long term loan from the Smithsonian, the Native Alaska Hall at The Anchorage Museum is filled with artifacts from Alaska’s indigenous Native Cultures. The artifacts were collected by expeditions during the last century and originally housed at the Smithsonian. There many languished in the Smithsonian’s warehouses until returned to Alaska.
In this video see artifacts from the Southeastern Alaska Haida People. Highlighted is a conical Potlatch Hat with added rings. As explained by the Anchorage Museum curator, each added ring represents an additional Potlatch attended by the wearer.
Link to Video of Curator Ex[plaining Potlatch Hat at Smithsonian'sLoaned Native Alaskan Wing of Anchorage Museum
FROM A COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ANCHORAGE PHOTOS TAKEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER WARD WELLS CIRCA 1960s and currently being featured at the anchorage museum:
Anchorage's first Escalator which was in Montgomery Wards Store. (As kids it was a great thrill for us to come ride it.)
German Restaurant that served the world's best open faced turkey sandwiches. Unfortunately it did not survive the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake:
Reportedly Elvis Visiting Anchorage:
Anchorage's Once Top Restaurant Open only for evening dining and located in a wartime quonset hut. It stayed in operation until the mid to late 70's:
From a past era when Alaska cows in Palmer supplied milk to Anchorage. Today all of Anchorage's milk is shipped in from "the lower 48:"
@1northcoin said:
FROM THIS MORNING'S VISIT TO THE MUSEUM
Curator Identifies Native Potlatch Hat’s Added Rings at the Anchorage Museum’s Smithsonian Exhibit
On long term loan from the Smithsonian, the Native Alaska Hall at The Anchorage Museum is filled with artifacts from Alaska’s indigenous Native Cultures. The artifacts were collected by expeditions during the last century and originally housed at the Smithsonian. There many languished in the Smithsonian’s warehouses until returned to Alaska.
In this video see artifacts from the Southeastern Alaska Haida People. Highlighted is a conical Potlatch Hat with added rings. As explained by the Anchorage Museum curator, each added ring represents an additional Potlatch attended by the wearer.
Link to Video of Curator Ex[plaining Potlatch Hat at Smithsonian'sLoaned Native Alaskan Wing of Anchorage Museum
CONCURRENTLY TAKEN PHOTOS INCLUDING A PAPO0SE MADE FROM SEALSKIN:
An uncle of mine who lived in Southeastern Alaska prior to 1941 where he worked as a foreman in Juneau's AJ Gold Mine painted the below pictured painting which he titled, "My version of 'Off to the Potlatch,' " He was apparently inspired by Sydney Laurence's painting titled, "Going to the Potlatch" circa 1920.
On the back of the painting my uncle attached a writing describing a potlatch as also pictured below.
The above narrative reads:
My Version of “Off to the Potlatch”
A potlatch is to the Alaska Indian as a fiesta is to the Mexican, a rodeo to the Westerner, and a county fair to Nebraskans.
When a man got enough money he threw a Potlatch and everyone came and he gave them all presents and provided whopee until he was broke.
Then he started to make more money so he could throw another one.
For each one he had added to his prestige and honor and entitled him to another story on his ceremonial hat. Some get to be four stories tall.
The U.S. [and Canada] stopped the custom [in the late 1800s - although it continued to some extent secretly until the 1950s when the ban was lifted] as their excuse that it made too much poverty, but really all that troubled them was that they wanted to swindle the Indians themselves and sell them more whiskey.
The boat [in my uncle’s painting] they are using is hollowed out of one log and would sometimes hold 50 or more, and be 100’ long.
Renowned Alaska Artist painted the below pictured painting relating to the Potlatch that today hangs in The Anchorage Museum:
Also found in the Anchorage Museum is this below picture Potlatch Hat:
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
FROM THIS MORNING'S VISIT TO THE MUSEUM
Curator Identifies Native Potlatch Hat’s Added Rings at the Anchorage Museum’s Smithsonian Exhibit
On long term loan from the Smithsonian, the Native Alaska Hall at The Anchorage Museum is filled with artifacts from Alaska’s indigenous Native Cultures. The artifacts were collected by expeditions during the last century and originally housed at the Smithsonian. There many languished in the Smithsonian’s warehouses until returned to Alaska.
In this video see artifacts from the Southeastern Alaska Haida People. Highlighted is a conical Potlatch Hat with added rings. As explained by the Anchorage Museum curator, each added ring represents an additional Potlatch attended by the wearer.
Link to Video of Curator Ex[plaining Potlatch Hat at Smithsonian'sLoaned Native Alaskan Wing of Anchorage Museum
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/urKVVK0OVmE
CONCURRENTLY TAKEN PHOTOS INCLUDING A PAPO0SE MADE FROM SEALSKIN:
FROM THE COLD WAR EXHIBITION AT THE MUSEUM:
Ford pinto for sure. .499 cent is what I started with in 1977
FROM A COLLECTION OF HISTORIC ANCHORAGE PHOTOS TAKEN BY PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHER WARD WELLS CIRCA 1960s and currently being featured at the anchorage museum:
Anchorage's first Escalator which was in Montgomery Wards Store. (As kids it was a great thrill for us to come ride it.)
German Restaurant that served the world's best open faced turkey sandwiches. Unfortunately it did not survive the 1964 Great Alaska Earthquake:
Reportedly Elvis Visiting Anchorage:
Anchorage's Once Top Restaurant Open only for evening dining and located in a wartime quonset hut. It stayed in operation until the mid to late 70's:
From a past era when Alaska cows in Palmer supplied milk to Anchorage. Today all of Anchorage's milk is shipped in from "the lower 48:"
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
What does the gun holster look like?
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USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
USN & USAF retired 1971-1993
Successful Transactions with more than 100 Members
An uncle of mine who lived in Southeastern Alaska prior to 1941 where he worked as a foreman in Juneau's AJ Gold Mine painted the below pictured painting which he titled, "My version of 'Off to the Potlatch,' " He was apparently inspired by Sydney Laurence's painting titled, "Going to the Potlatch" circa 1920.
On the back of the painting my uncle attached a writing describing a potlatch as also pictured below.
The above narrative reads:
My Version of “Off to the Potlatch”
A potlatch is to the Alaska Indian as a fiesta is to the Mexican, a rodeo to the Westerner, and a county fair to Nebraskans.
When a man got enough money he threw a Potlatch and everyone came and he gave them all presents and provided whopee until he was broke.
Then he started to make more money so he could throw another one.
For each one he had added to his prestige and honor and entitled him to another story on his ceremonial hat. Some get to be four stories tall.
The U.S. [and Canada] stopped the custom [in the late 1800s - although it continued to some extent secretly until the 1950s when the ban was lifted] as their excuse that it made too much poverty, but really all that troubled them was that they wanted to swindle the Indians themselves and sell them more whiskey.
The boat [in my uncle’s painting] they are using is hollowed out of one log and would sometimes hold 50 or more, and be 100’ long.
Renowned Alaska Artist painted the below pictured painting relating to the Potlatch that today hangs in The Anchorage Museum:
Also found in the Anchorage Museum is this below picture Potlatch Hat: