10/03/2026
FROM THE COLLECTIONS: Powder Horn with Map of the Hudson and Mohawk Valleys, 1755-1763. WH.1971.150
This week in our ongoing series, we bring you this powder horn that depicts the neighboring Hudson and Mohawk Valleys in upstate New York. Powder horns were used to keep the black powder for muzzle-loaded fi****ms dry and safe from sparks or flames. Utilized by civilians, militia, and professional soldiers, most were cattle or oxen horns, with wooden plugs held in by traditional glues, beeswax, or pitch to ensure an airtight and moisture-tight seal. As seen here, they were often decorated with engraved designs, names, and dates. This horn has a blank cartouche for an owner's name, which was never added. The silver tip, threaded for a spout, was likely added in the 19th century. There is also a painting of this horn in the Headquarters collection, WH.1978.9.
➡️ To see this object and many more like it, visit us at Washington's Headquarters on Wednesdays through Saturdays from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm, and on Sundays from 1:00 pm until 5:00 pm!