Old Town canoes and kayaks have balanced tradition and technology throughout Old Town Canoes' 100 year history. Old Town canoes built their first Old Town canoe in 1898 using wood-and-canvas canoe construction, a more durable, lower maintenance improvement on the Native American birch bark canoe. Old Town kayaks in canvas and wood were introduced in the 1940s, and made kayaking fun and easy for a new breed of outdoor enthusiasts. In the 1950s and 1960s, Old Town canoes pioneered the use of fiberglass for Old Town canoes, and Old Town canoes and kayaks continue innovation into the 21st century, advancing the art of paddling through better designs and lighter, more durable materials, like today's three-layer polyethylene and three-layer Superlinear. Old Town Canoe continues to look ahead, while still keeping one eye on the past for inspiration from the best of classic boat-building traditions. There are Old Town canoes and kayaks designed for family canoeing, recreation and fitness paddling, fishing canoes and kayaks, whitewater, touring and camping. Whatever water you travel, there is an Old Town canoe or kayak ready to help you make the most of every trip.