The Filson Historical Society Digital Projects

Explore by Item Type

Archival material such as letters, diaries, financial ledgers, and maps document the land, peoples, exploration, and transformation of the trans-Appalachian West.

Indigenous, free, and enslaved people who lived in the First American West left behind artifacts that were part of their everyday lives. These objects were shaped by physical and social needs as well as available resources and technology. These items provide insight into complex cultural traditions, physical environments, labor structures, and socio-economic systems. 

Here we invite you to explore the various types of materials from the Filson's Special Collections and Museum Collections.

Manuscript Material

Museum Objects



NEH Preferred Seal
First American West was generously funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.