An Inuit kayak dating back to 1891 is on display at the Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum in Maine, USA. It's part of a virtual exhibit on kayaks that features a range from across the Arctic, with highly detailed models from Greenland, Alaska and Canada on display.
The historic Labrador kajak (spelled in the Nunatsiavut dialect of Inuktitut) was the inspiration for the exhibit. Since the museum opened in 1967, the full-sized kayak has been displayed high on a wall in the gallery. Purchased in 1891 by members of the Bowdoin College Scientific Expedition to Labrador (in Canada), the now fragile kayak was presented to the college by expedition leader, Professor Leslie Lee. One section of the exhibition focuses on the kayak and a full-size replica of it which was made for the museum by Nunatsiavut kayaker Noah Nochasak and local kayak builder Fred Randall.
While the museum&rsquos galleries remain closed at the moment, the online exhibit is open and includes a variety of family-friendly and media activities.