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Masthead for The Worthington News, Worthington Pump and Machinery Corporation, July 1929, featuring a line drawing of two wings with an orb between them.
Exploring invention and innovation through stories, activities, and research.
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Masthead for The Worthington News, July 1929, AC0916-0000013. Worthington Company Records, Archives Center. © Smithsonian Institution

Explore

Behind every invention, there is a story. Discover those stories here.

 

Detail of cartoon drawing of men sitting around an old-time general store. One man is nailing up a sign that reads, in part, “Pump Salesmen Wanted. Must be experts upon water meters, filters, . . . engines . . . compressors . . . etc.”
Blog

Looking Beyond Steam Pumps

Buried inside the unprocessed papers of a steam pump manufacturer were drawings and illustrations illuminating the work culture and life within the company.

James McLurkin
Blog

Inspirational “Innovative Lives”

Celebrating twenty-four years—and counting—of highlighting diverse inventors and innovators in the Lemelson Center’s “Innovative Lives” program series.

An older woman and a very young boy work together on a hands-on activity
Blog

What Does It Take to Make a Spark!Lab?

Looking at your world through the lens of invention.

Study

Scholars and students, join us in studying our passion: invention! Apply for a fellowship, travel grant, or internship. Explore our collections. Consult our research reports and best practices for documenting and collecting inventors’ materials. And check out our Lemelson Center/MIT Press book series.

A stylized drawing of a compact fluorescent light bulb surrounded by a solid orange circle with a green border
Lemelson Center Research

2018 Lemelson Center Activities Report

The Lemelson Center had a dynamic 2018, featuring significant public engagement ranging from Draper Spark!Lab at the National Museum of American History to the expanding Spark!Lab network to invention and innovation festivals and our Innovative Lives program series.

Montage of book covers published in the Lemelson Center Studies series
Lemelson Center Books

Lemelson Center Studies in Invention and Innovation

Books in the interdisciplinary Lemelson Center Studies in Invention and Innovation series explore the history of invention and innovation and the work of inventors and the technologies they create.

Screenshot of Spacewar! video game
Lemelson Center Research

Videogame Pioneers Initiative

A project to document and preserve the legacy of video game pioneers

Try

Get hands-on with the history and the process of invention! Try all sorts of ways to get creative!

A young girl works on the Invent a Skate Park activity
Spark!Lab

Current Spark!Lab Activities

Draper Spark!Lab visitors can enjoy inventing while exploring the history and process of invention.

An adult man is working with a young girl on an activity in SparkLab
Spark!Lab

About Spark!Lab

Draper Spark!Lab is where museum visitors become inventors.

An outline of a gear, pictured in solid orange, with the words (in white lettering): Think about a new invention that enhances the daily lives of older adults.
DO Try This at Home!

The 2019 Spark!Lab Dr. InBae Yoon Invent It Challenge

It's time for the annual Invent It Challenge!

Surprise me!

Events

In the news

  • Nov 08, 2018

    Spacewar! Creators Honored at Smithsonian “Innovative Lives” Event

  • Nov 08, 2018

    Spacewar! Creators Honored at Smithsonian “Innovative Lives” Event

  • Sep 14, 2018

    Lemelson Center Moves Women Inventors to the Front in New Display

  • Jul 26, 2018

    2018 National Trademark Exposition Highlights the Important Role Trademarks Play

On view

Visit the Lemelson Hall of Invention and Innovation

The Lemelson Hall of Invention and Innovation features:

  • Places of Invention, an exhibition that explores what can happen when the right mix of inventive people, untapped resources, and inspiring surroundings come together.
  • Draper Spark!Lab, our hands-on invention workshop for children and families.
  • Inventive Minds, a changing gallery that highlights the Lemelson Center’s work on documenting inventors.

Location and Hours:

The Lemelson Center and the Lemelson Hall of Invention and Innovation are located at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

  • Draper Spark!Lab is open daily (except Tuesdays and Dec. 24 and 25) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Places of Invention and Inventive Minds are open daily (except Dec. 25) from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Click for visiting information. Hours are subject to change for holidays, inclement weather, and urgent maintenance issues. Please check the museum calendar for updates.

Learn more about our exhibitions

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Tweets by @SI_Invention

VIEW 2296 Matching Results

Found 2296 Stories

  • Agriculture and horticulture (Relevance: 5.1393728222997%)
  • Air and space (Relevance: 7.2299651567944%)
  • Chemistry (Relevance: 3.1358885017422%)
  • Food and drink (Relevance: 2.918118466899%)
  • Industry and manufacturing (Relevance: 7.4912891986063%)
  • Maritime (Relevance: 3.1358885017422%)
  • Medicine, health, and life sciences (Relevance: 4.4425087108014%)
  • Military technology (Relevance: 3.5714285714286%)
  • Mining and drilling (Relevance: 3.9198606271777%)
  • Patents and trademarks (Relevance: 12.064459930314%)
  • Photography, film, television, and video (Relevance: 3.2665505226481%)
  • Power generation, motors, and engines (Relevance: 3.7020905923345%)
  • Research and development (Relevance: 3.0487804878049%)
  • Telegraph, telephone, and telecommunications (Relevance: 3.4407665505226%)
  • Textiles and clothing (Relevance: 2.918118466899%)
  • Transportation (Relevance: 6.2282229965157%)
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