A short history

Canoe/ka'nu/n-v. -- A long and narrow boat that is sharp at both ends, has curved sides, built of lightweight materials, and is propelled by hand-driven paddles. Average size is 17 feet long, 36 inches wide, and 13 inches deep. As for the word "canoe," it evolved from the Native American word "cana-oa,": according to Christopher Columbus. What Europeans call canoes, Americans call kayaks; what Americans call canoes are called Canadian canoes by the Europeans.

The canoe was born when man discovered that he could ride a floating tree trunk on a moving body of water. He then learned that he could propel his log better on still water or against a current by using a pole or flattened piece of wood as a paddle. By using primitive equipment to hack and burn his log, he found it was able to carry supplies. Dug out further, the craft became more easily portable and more readily propelled in either calm or swiftly moving waters.

The white man could easily see how valuable the canoe was and used it a great deal during America's exploring years. The first white man's canoe factory was started in the 1600's and was situated on the St. Lawrence River. They made about 20 canoes a year, approximately 36 feet long, 5 1/2 feet wide, and 33 inches deep. They had a remarkable carrying capacity and earned an honored place in North American history.

During Lewis and Clark's time, there was much trading of canoes for horses, and vice versa, depending on the terrain to be traveled. Lower Columbia River Indians, who spent much of their lives in a canoe, were often referred to as "Canoe Indians."

With the advent of wagon trains, riverboats, and railroads, the canoe faded from necessity and canoeing evolved into a sport, enjoyed by a mere handful of avid paddlers.

In 1864, the Scottish canoeist and traveler John MacGregor designed a canoe; he called it the "Rob Roy." It was good for a long journey by water and at the same time light enough (about 70 lbs.) to be carried over portages. Accounts of MacGregor's cruises in the "Rob Roy" helped to popularize canoeing as a sport.

Another surge of canoe awareness came in the 1880's when Nicholas Longworth, a member of the old Cincinnati Canoe Club, designed the "Princess" canoe. J. Henry Rushton built these canoes for the canoe club. Rushton's "Princess" was the first canoe built not for the voyager trade, but for the recreational paddler. Canoeing was, however, still confined to a happy few.

The real boost to the popularization of canoeing seems to have come about in the mid-1960's, because of the "back-to-nature movement." Many have discovered that canoeing is a quick, simple, and inexpensive way to return to nature. Relatively unspoiled, quiet waters still exist within a short driving distance from the city; also, a canoe can move on waterways that are completely inaccessible to other watercraft. Canoeing is fun and aerobic, and gives one a sense of pride once he or she has learned to paddle well.

There are over four million canoes in America today, built by companies such as We-no-nah (which means "first born daughter"). Most manufactures make canoes in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, weights, materials, and colors. There is a canoe designed for every person, whether they are camper, wildlife photographer, birdwatcher, botanist, fisherman, white water runner, racer, aerobic fitness avid, or even just a romantic.

The canoe is a vehicle that nearly everyone can learn to use safely and effectively in a comparatively brief time. It takes just a bit of instruction, plus some common sense, practice, and a reasonable recognition of certain basic rules of balance.

George W. Sear, better known by his Indian name, Nessmuk, wrote in 1888, "My canoes is my yacht, as it would be, were I a millionaire."