At some time in the far distant past, humans were able to domesticate fire, and this radically changed the way we prepared food. Cooking food became an important part of human life. In the beginning, cooking was done over an open flame, but with advances in metal technology, humans eventually learned how to contain fire in iron boxes and the wood-fired cook stove began to evolve. In 1802, British iron founder George Bodley patented a cast-iron range with a modern flue. This became the prototype for the cook stoves that dominated British and American kitchens.
Today museums have many examples of these wood-fired kitchen ranges. A few of these are shown below.
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma, Washington
Fort Nisqually was established by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), a London-based fur trading company, on the Puget Sound in present-day Washington state in 1833. The Fort Nisqually Living History Museum is a reconstruction of the fort which gives visitors a glimpse of life in the fort in 1855.
Heritage Museum, Astoria, Oregon
Pioneer Village, Cashmere, Washington
Cashmere Museum, Cashmere, Washington
Shown below is the cook stove in the Trapper Cabin exhibit.
Quincy Valley Historical Society Museum, Quincy, Washington
Ohio Village, Columbus, Ohio
Bunker Hill Staff House, Kellogg, Idaho
Fort Owen State Park, Stevensville, Montana
Ohio History Center, Columbus, Ohio
Lake Chelan Historical Society Museum, Chelan, Washington
Methodist Parsonage, Willamette Heritage Center, Salem, Oregon
The Methodist Parsonage, constructed in 1841, was originally the living quarters for the missionaries involved with the Oregon Mission Manual Labor School that would be built on the present-day campus of Willamette University in Salem. In 1844, the mission was disbanded, and the building became the parsonage for the Methodist Church. Today the Parsonage is at the Willamette Heritage Center.
The Jason Lee House, Willamette Heritage Center, Salem, Oregon
The Jason Lee House, constructed in 1841, is the oldest frame structure still standing in the Pacific Northwest. In 1965, the structure was moved to the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem where it was used as a museum.
The Boon House, Willamette Heritage Center, Salem, Oregon
The Boon House was constructed in 1847 and is believed to be the oldest single-family dwelling in Salem, Oregon. The first occupants were John D. Boon (1817-1864) and his family who had come to Oregon in a covered wagon on the Oregon Trail. The house was moved to its current location on the Willamette Heritage Center in Salem in 1972.
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, Washington
Campbell House, Spokane, Washington
Presby House Museum, Goldendale, Washington
Wenatchee Valley Museum, Wenatchee, Montana
Museum of North Idaho, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
East Benton County Museum, Kennewick, Washington
Swan Valley Historical Museum, Condon, Montana
Fort Steele Heritage Village, British Columbia
Nevada City Living History Museum, Nevada City, Montana
Fort Dalles Museum, The Dalles, Oregon
Deschutes Historical Museum, Bend, Oregon
High Desert Museum, Bend, Oregon
Miracle of America Museum, Polson, Montana
Heritage Museum, Libby, Montana
Butterfield Cottage, Seaside, Oregon
Renton History Museum, Renton, Washington
Museums 201/301/401
In Museums 201/301/401, similar exhibits from several museums are featured.
Museums 401: Sewing machines (photo diary)
Museums 401: Gas stations and garages (photo diary)
Museums 401: Shoes (photo diary)
Museums 401: Typewriters (photo diary)
Museums 301: Washing machines (photo diary)
Museums 301: Upright pianos (photo diary)
Museums 201: Antique farming equipment (photo diary)
Museums 201: Railway offices (photo diary)