The Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History

Jerry and Dolly at Lemelson Center ribbon cutting ceremony, 1996. Smithsonian photo by Jeff Tinsley

The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation was founded in 1995 at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History. The Center's mission is to document, interpret, and disseminate information about invention and innovation, to encourage inventive creativity in young people, and to foster an appreciation for the central role invention and innovation play in the history of the United States.

"The ability to continue inspiring creativity and innovation among millions of Americans is possible because of the commitment of the Lemelson Foundation," said Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small.

Building on the unique resources of the National Museum of American History, the Center seeks innovative ways to:

• Record the past, by preserving and increasing access to records and artifacts;
• Broaden our understanding of history, through research, discussion, and dissemination of ideas; and
• Look towards the future, by developing programs aimed at engaging young people in the study and exploration of invention and innovation.

Invention at Play This exhibition brings a fresh perspective to the topic of invention, exploring the marked similarities between the ways children play and the creative processes used by innovators in science and technology. In 3,500 – 4,000 square feet of artifacts and interactive experiences, the exhibition provides visitors with opportunities to learn how play fosters creative talents among children as well as adults, experience their own playful and inventive abilities, and understand how children’s play parallels processes used by inventors.

Invention at Play departs from the traditional representation of inventors as extraordinary geniuses who are not “like us” to celebrate the creative skills and processes that are familiar and accessible to all people. The exhibition was developed by the Lemelson Center at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History, Behring Center, in partnership with the Science Museum of Minnesota. The tour is managed by the Association of Science-Technology Centers. Artifacts are on loan from the National Museum of American History, inventors, and other organizations.