Tour the National Inventors Hall of Fame Museum Exhibits
American innovation is always evolving — and so is the National Inventors Hall of Fame® Museum. Celebrating hundreds of exceptional U.S. patent holders and welcoming a new class of Inductees each year, our museum offers dynamic exhibits and interactive experiences designed to ignite the innovative spirit in visitors of all ages.
Experience Our Inspiring Core Exhibits
Gallery of Icons
Begin your visit with the Gallery of Icons™, where you’ll see an extraordinary display of icons commemorating each of the more than 600 Inductees we’ve welcomed since our founding in 1973. Hung in a tessellating hexagon pattern inspired by honeycombs and organized by patent number, this is a stunning visual representation of the history of American innovation.
2024 Class of Inductees
Meet the newest class of Inductees, recognized in partnership with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Learn about the work of creators and innovators like Andrea Goldsmith, inventor of adaptive beamforming for multi-antenna Wi-Fi; Asad Madni, inventor of the MEMS gyroscope for aerospace and automotive safety; and James Allison, inventor of immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Programs Room
Redefining what a Hall of Fame can be and do, we reach beyond the walls of our museum to inspire the next generation of creators, innovators and entrepreneurs. The Programs Room introduces visitors to our nationwide learning opportunities for PreK through college, designed to unlock creative potential through hands-on exploration and valuable lessons from our Inductees.
Inductee Video Room
For the inside story of innovation, step into the Inductee Video Room. See unique interviews with some of the world’s greatest inventors and get a glimpse into our Inductees’ personal stories, in their own words.
Women in Innovation
Witness powerful interviews with current and future leaders in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) when you visit this exhibit sponsored by Qualcomm. As you learn about lifesaving breakthroughs and world-changing inventions, you’ll see how greater participation in our intellectual property system contributes to the innovation economy.
Connectivity Changes Everything
Trace the evolution of wireless technology from the breakthroughs that power your smartphone to the everything-connected world of 5G at this exhibit sponsored by Qualcomm. You’ll see how National Inventors Hall of Fame Inductees, including Qualcomm co-founders Irwin Jacobs and Andrew Viterbi and actress-inventor Hedy Lamarr, contributed to a more connected world.
50 Years of Automotive Design and Technology
Climb inside a car that merges Ford Mustang models from 1965 and 2015 to see and feel the evolution of automotive design and technology. This one-of-a-kind, interactive exhibit showcases 50 years of iconic innovation.
The Power of Trademarks
Discover the value of intellectual property when you visit this exhibit, made possible by the USPTO and International Trademark Association (INTA). See artifacts showing the evolution of brands like Carhartt, Hershey’s and Major League Baseball, try to tell the difference between genuine and counterfeit products, and test your knowledge with interactive trademark games.
Don't Miss Our Limited-Time Exhibits
HoloTile Floor
Be inspired by this amazing prototype of HoloTile™ floor technology! The Walt Disney Company’s most prolific inventor, 2024 Inductee Lanny Smoot co-created the world's first and only multi-person, omni-directional, modular, expandable treadmill floor. Watch how it allows people to share a virtual reality experience, letting them move in any direction without ever walking off its surface.
Nomex Flight Suit
See a flight suit made with Nomex® fiber, made possible by 2024 Inductee Alice Stoll, who was a pioneer in aerospace medicine and a researcher at the Naval Air Development Center. Her work led to the use of fibers like Nomex to make fire-resistant clothing, keeping people safe from thermal burns in the U.S. Armed Forces, fire departments and more.
A Legacy of Innovation
On loan from the family of 2023 Inductees Louis and Cyril Keller, see the Keller brothers’ 1958 prototype of the world’s first compact loader. As you view this forerunner to the Bobcat® skid-steer loader, discover a rich history of intellectual property and imagine the future of the compact equipment industry.
Invention: The Sky is the Limit
Feel the rush of a virtual skydive! Inspired by Inductee Floyd Smith, the daring trapeze artist and aviator who invented the modern parachute, this exhilarating exhibit gives you the chance to experience a freefall, deploy a parachute and enjoy a safe landing.
The following sponsors help make our museum exhibits possible:
United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Qualcomm
International Trademark Association (INTA)
