Smithsonian Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation

The Jerome and Dorothy Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation has led the study of invention and innovation at the Smithsonian since 1995, empowering the public to solve problems, navigate challenges, and effect real change in their lives and communities. Lemelson Center activities draw on the Smithsonian's vast collections of artifacts and archival materials, advance scholarship on the history of invention, share stories about inventors and their work, and nurture creativity in young people. The Center embodies a philosophy akin to that of the inventors we study, of valuing creativity and embracing the potential rewards of intellectual risk-taking. The success of the Center would not be possible without a talented and interdisciplinary team. We are also grateful to the hundreds of volunteers, docents, and interns who contribute to the achievement of our mission.