This handmade 1800s wooden salt bucket was used by Dr. James and Minnie McClung Bell of Eagle Rock. It was donated to the Botetourt Museum of History and Culture by Janice Wood Thompson.
Preserving one of the world’s most treasured foods has been important for thousands of years and contributed to the development of civilization. Animals wore paths to salt licks, humans followed, trails became roads and settlements grew. Salt is one of the world’s principal trading commodities. It is used for seasoning and preserving food, antiseptics and as a method of payment. The word salary came from the word salt. The Oxford English Dictionary contains four pages that refer to salt, which is more than any other food. The history of salt covers every culture and religion in the world.
The museum in Fincastle showcases this beautiful artifact.
~ Botetourt County Museum of History & Culture
