In a collaboration that bridges history and heritage, the National Museum of the Great Lakes (NMGL) joins forces with the Toledo History Museum to present the “Wagush” Dugout Canoe.
On loan from the Toledo History Museum’s collection, this watercraft will grace the museum’s lobby throughout November, aligning with both Native American Heritage Month and a lecture on Nov. 15.
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Carrie Sowden, overseeing NMGL’s lecture series and temporary exhibits, spoke about the significance, saying, “Dugout canoes are boats made from hollowed-out trees by Native Americans across North and South America.”
With the Great Lakes as the ancestral homelands for numerous Indigenous and Native tribal nations, the museum seeks to honor its hometown’s Native American history by spotlighting a canoe with Toledo roots.
The word “wagush,” painted on the canoe’s side, is said to be a Wyandot term meaning “friend.” The tapestry unfolds complexities as historians speculate on Chippewa or Ojibwe roots for the term, adding layers to the canoe’s rich narrative.
Shrouded in mystery and history, the “Wagush” dugout canoe finds its journey linked with the Whitmore family’s generosity. Originally donated to the Toledo Zoo in the 1940s, it eventually found a home in the Toledo History Museum’s collection. Believed to have been acquired in the 1820s by Luthor Whitmore, Sr., the canoe’s origin remains shrouded in mystery — no record exists of its builder or seller.
Through November, the canoe will be on display at NMGL, providing visitors a unique opportunity to dive into the fascinating world of dugout canoes. Encouraging curiosity, the museum invites individuals to register for the upcoming free lecture, “Dugout Canoes of Wisconsin,” featuring Professor of Archaeology Sissel Schroeder from UW-Madison. The lecture scheduled for Nov. 15, looks to be an insightful journey into the historical significance of these watercraft.
For details on the lecture and registration, visit nmgl.org/events or contact Kate Fineske at 419-265-4967.
