The Northwest Coast cultural area extends along the coast from southern Alaska and down the Canadian province of British Columbia to the northern edge of California. The Indians in this area lived mainly from fishing. Salmon, which occurred in great shoals, were dried and smoked ready for winter. The coastal forests provided material for each extended family's big plank house. The wood of the so-called red cedar supplied the basic material for the highly developed art of carving which has a characteristic style throughout the Northwest Coast, although there are local variations.

Richly carved and painted chest with lid
acquired by Adrian Jacobsen from the Haida in 1882