Navigating snow-covered terrain during the winter months in the northern United States and Canada historically presented significant challenges. Progress to address these transportation obstacles began in the 1890s. William J. Culman and William B. Follis were awarded the first patent for a sled propeller in 1895. The following year, a powered sled patented by Moses, William and Joseph Runnoe of Crested Butte, Colorado consisted of an endless track of chain and eight steel crossbars supported by spring straps coupled with cleat spurs for traction.
In subsequent decades, particularly in regions like Wisconsin, Michigan, and Canada, further efforts were made to develop utility vehicles, including modified sleighs and automobiles, to assist local populations in essential services including fire, medical and utility The term “snowmobile” was coined by Virgil D. White, who received a patent in 1917 for converting a Model T Ford. White, a Ford dealer in Ossipee, New Hampshire, utilized metal or wooden skis at the front that pivoted with the steering wheel, along with rear-mounted tracks. By 1919, he established his own snowmobile company producing Model T snowmobiles and selling conversion kits through Ford dealerships. How- ever, the company closed in 1929 after selling 25,000 units.
Another early pioneer, often regarded as the father of the motor toboggan, was Carl Eliason, a lumber dealer from Sayner, Wisconsin. Eliason utilized a 2.5-horsepower engine from an outboard motor to create a motorized toboggan featuring a continuous track rotating around two rollers on wooden skis. He is credited with several innovations, including forward-mounted two-stroke engines, centrifugal clutches, belt drives, and ski steering. Eliason received a patent for gasoline-powered snowmobiles in 1927, leading to one of only two commercially produced snowmobiles prior to 1960. The Four Wheel Drive Company of Clintonville, Wisconsin, recognized for its all- wheel-drive vehicles, manufactured over 400 Eliason snowmobiles before discontinuing production in the 1950s. Eliason also had a connection with Harold Warp, who offered him $10,000 to purchase his original snowmobile for display at Pioneer Village, an offer Eliason declined in favor of preserving the model in the Sayner, Wisconsin museum.
Joseph-Armand Bombardier from Quebec began developing large tracked snow vehicles utilizing a caterpillar track system capable of traversing diverse terrains. His multitrack snowmobile gained popularity among Allied forces during World War II. In 1959, he marketed the first lightweight, single-passenger design known as the Ski-Doo snowmobile. The following decade saw continued innovations from other manufacturers, includ- ing Polaris and Arc- tic Cat.
Arctic Enterprises, Inc. produced the Arctic Cat 100 in 1962, while that same year, Abe Mathews Engineering Co. began manufacturing the Trailmaker snowmobile, producing approximately 800 units before selling the design to the Boatel Company in 1965.
Canadian-founded Boa-Ski snowmobiles gained popularity from 1968 to 1978, producing 40,000 units in 1971 alone with a workforce of 350. Their innovative designs included a removable plastic gas tank, an 18-inch track, and storage compartments beneath the seat and backrest. Powered by free-air Kohler engines, Boa-Ski models became favored among racers due to their lightweight alumi- num tunnels.
Brutanza Engineering Inc., established in Brooten, Minnesota began producing snow-mobiles in 1971, focusing on racing and creating some of the earliest muscle sleds, featuring the industry’s first liquid-cooled engine.
By the early 1970s, hundreds of thousands of snowmo- biles were in use across North America, and snowmobiling emerged as a popular recreational activity. Even Harley-Da- vidson, the renowned motorcycle manufacturer, produced 10,000 snowmobiles between 1971 and 1975, offering two models: the Y-400 and Y-440, both equipped with Aermacchi two-stroke parallel-twin engines built in Italy and designed by Harley Davidson.
The snowmobile market faced a downturn in the mid-1970s due to rising oil prices and poor snow seasons, resulting in numerous manufacturers filing for bankruptcy. It made a comeback years later with further innovations in the 1980s & 1990s. This era saw significant innovations, such as Polaris introducing independent front suspension in 1980 for its TXL Indy 340 and the first snowmobile with fuel injection, the Indy 650 RXL EFI, in 1991.
Lynx introduced the first two-speed transmission with reverse, while Ski-Doo was the first company to mass-produce an electronic reverse. Throughout the early 21st century, snowmobiles continued to evolve, with advancements in design leading to improved suspension systems, turbocharged engines, and a shift towards electric power, reducing their carbon footprint.
In 1981, Harold Warp acquired a collection of 38 snow- mobiles from Elwood Gunderson of Virginia, Minnesota for $1,000. Many of these are now displayed, along with other donated snowmobiles, on the second floor of Building 19 at Pioneer Village, representing a significant chapter in snowmobile history. Museum visitors have the opportunity to see this one-of-a-kind snowmobile collection at the Harold Warp Pioneer Village.
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