Ironically, their history and build closely mimics manufacturing trends through the years. The success of canoes in the Americas and abroad meant longevity, and though canoes faded from frequent transportation use during the industrial revolution, they remained popular for recreation and sport.Ĭanoes invoked a sense of freedom and nostalgia, and were seen as vessels to escape the modern industrial world and get back to nature. Europeans recognized the agility, stability, and ease of canoes when they traversed shallow waterways and heavily used them in exploration of the American continent and for pleasure back home. Canoes originated with indigenous peoples around the world, including the traditionally bark canoes that tribes in the Americas built and stretched over wood frames.
