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Bill James in foreground with large digital display in background
We envision a world in which everyone is inventive and inspired to contribute to innovation.
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Pioneering “sabermetrician” Bill James with his calculator at Royals Stadium in Kansas City in 1981. His formula for Runs Created is on the big screen. Courtesy of Bronx Banter

Explore

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

 

Cover of the book Moneyball, showing a closeup of a baseball player’s hand holding a baseball.
Blog

Sports Analytics Before Moneyball

Long before the book Moneyball hit bestseller lists in 2003, sports analytics had emerged as a quirky pastime practiced by operations researchers, freelance sports journalists, and internet hobbyists.

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Blog

Innovating the Spark!Lab Experience during a Pandemic

Springfield Museums’ Spark!Lab pioneered methods to safely reopen their hands-on space to the public.

Drawing of ten ice cream cones on a plate, stacked in a pyramid shape.
Blog

The Inventive “Queens of Ices”

Some cool women inventors are behind a favorite summer treat!

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.

Research Opportunities

Lemelson Center Fellows 1996–Present

Meet our current and past Lemelson Center Fellows and read about their research projects.

Cover of American Independent Inventors in an Era of Corporate R&D
Lemelson Center Books

American Independent Inventors in an Era of Corporate R&D

How America's individual inventors persisted alongside corporate R&D labs as an important source of inventions. Published in the Lemelson Center Studies in Invention and Innovation book series with MIT Press.

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.

Try

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

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.

Ralph Baer playing his Telesketch game, 1977
Encouraging Innovative Thinking

Ralph H. Baer Endowment for Invention Education

Contributions to the Ralph H. Baer Endowment will support invention education through the Lemelson Center.

Sparky logo
Spark!Lab

Frequently Asked Questions about Spark!Lab

Draper Spark!Lab is a hands-on invention activity center where visitors learn that invention is a process and that everyone is inventive.

Surprise me!

Events

In the news

  • Apr 21, 2022

    Smithsonian Institution, USA Skateboarding and Levitt at the Falls Collaborate To Bring Innoskate Festival to Sioux Falls and Pine Ridge

  • Mar 15, 2022

    Spark!Lab Is Hiring! Floor Manager (FULL TIME)

  • Mar 10, 2022

    Collaboration of Disciplines Across Atlantic Coast Conference Stimulates Creativity and Innovation at Smithsonian Festival

  • Feb 15, 2022

    Spark!Lab is Hiring! Facilitator (PART-TIME)

On view

Visit the Lemelson Hall of Invention and Innovation

Draper Spark!Lab is open in a limited capacity on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

The National Museum of American History is open seven days a week! Visit us every day 10:00 a.m.– 5:30 p.m. Admission is free and masks are not required to visit Smithsonian museums or the National Zoo. Information about other Smithsonian museums and their hours of operation, as well safety tips and guidelines for visiting may be found on the main Smithsonian website.

Plan your visit >>

The Lemelson Hall of Invention and Innovation features:

Draper Spark!Lab, our hands-on invention workshop for children and families. Want to invent at home? Check out the DO Try This at Home section of our website!

Places of Invention, an exhibition that explores what can happen when the right mix of inventive people, untapped resources, and inspiring surroundings come together.

Inventive Minds, a changing gallery that highlights the Lemelson Center’s work on documenting inventors.

Location and Hours:

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

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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