Logging hard hats like the one pictured on the right were used in the forests of Humboldt County by the thousands of men who worked in the logging industry from the 1940s into the 1980s. They are made of aluminum with an inner support system made of cotton thread and leather, to provide space between the logger's head and the helmet. They were originally modeled after helmets worn by soldiers in WWI. Over time, the aluminum hard hat has grown to represent more than workplace safety, but a way of life rooted in a place dependent on the forests for a livelihood. | |
Keep an eye out for this hard hat in our upcoming exhibit The Redwoods Provide(d): The Story of Redwood National and State Parks, opening July 7, 2018
Bullard's Hard Hats