On July 31, 1790, the inventor Samuel Hopkins was awarded the first US patent for a new method of making potash and pearl ash. Potash, later termed...
The refrigerators of the 1920s were deadly. Their motorized compressors easily malfunctioned, allowing the refrigerants—that is, toxic gases—to escape...
Navigating a supermarket today is strikingly different than only three months ago. Store layouts designed over the past 100 years encouraged shoppers...
One of my favorite artifacts in the museum is the first computer mouse, which is currently on display in the Silicon Valley section of Places of...
When was the typewriter invented? Let me offer a hint. The first printing press that used movable type (made of porcelain) was invented in the 1040s...
During 2016, the National Museum of American History has adopted “America Participates” as its theme. Naturally, my own thoughts have turned to how...
During 2016, the National Museum of American History has adopted “America Participates” as its theme. Naturally, my own thoughts have turned to how...
Stephen B. Adams, Lemelson Center fellow during the Fall of 2015. His research project is entitled “Before the Garage: The Beginnings of Silicon...
When Al Gore* invented the Internet, never could he have envisioned that it would become the existence-augmenting system it has become.
Just this...
A mix of motivations drives inventors, including a passion for solving problems they encounter, a joy of tinkering and building, hopes and plans to...
Jerome Lemelson’s inventive legacy touches nearly every facet of our everyday lives. One of America’s most prolific inventors, he earned more than 600...
One of my favorite archival tools is the stainless steel micro spatula. This durable, light-weight tool is invaluable for quickly and safely removing...
This is a guest post by Joan Boudreau, Curator, Graphic Arts Collection, National Museum of American History.2014 marks the 150th anniversary of the...
The Lemelson Center exists to promote the study ofinvention and innovation. Suppose you invent something, a new tool or a new way of doing things...
When engineers discuss innovation, they sometimes miss the point entirely. Here’s the bottom line: If an invention does not meet a need or is...
