Inventions

American Inventors and Inventions
Brief facts about and images of selected American inventors and inventions, from the Smithsonian Institution.

An In-depth Look at Inventors and Their Lives
In Innovative Lives, meet the inventors who have participated in the Center's "Innovative Lives" program for middle school students. Whole Cloth: Discovering Science and Technology through American Textile History is an interdisciplinary curriculum integrating science, technology, and invention with women's, African American, and labor history. In Edison, learn about Edison's life--and how to make your own light bulb. Visit the virtual version of the Center's popular exhibit, From Frying Pan to Flying V: The Rise of the Electric Guitar. Discover the fascinating stories behind the invention of the quartz watch. From the Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation, Smithsonian National Museum of American History.

Ancient Inventions
An introduction to over 40 ancient inventions - from the distaff to the potter's wheel to the abacus. The Virtual Museum of Ancient Inventions at Smith College is a project begun by students in the Ancient Inventions course, first offered in 1997. More inventions will be acquired by the museum each year that the course is offered.

Digging Deeper: Resources for the History of Invention
Lemelson Center for the Study of Invention and Innovation's list of links for further study of inventors and inventions on the web.

Forgotten Inventors
We remember the inventions, but not the inventors. Seven famous inventions - the can opener, the feather duster, the gas mask, etc. - and their inventors are featured, from "The American Experience" at pbs.org.

From Carbons to Computers: The Changing American Office
"Exploring the changing American office, from its beginnings in the 1830s in the railroad industry to its dominance in the American economy of the late 20th century, shows us a way to study our nation's growth, from the industrial revolution to the postindustrial information age." An educational resource intended for middle and high schools students, their teachers, and the general public, from the Smithsonian Office of Education.

The Great Idea Finder
Gateway with links to invention facts and myths, inventor profiles, an innovation timeline and an innovation trivia quiz.

Inventing Modern America: From the Microwave to the Mouse
This site explores the life and work of five intriguing innovators. Choose one of the inventors' qualities—courage, insight, know-how, vision, and perseverance—to find out more. From the Lemelson-MIT Program.

The Invention Dimension
The Lemelson-MIT Awards Program web site features Inventor of the Week and and inventor archives, invention related links and resources, and more. The mission of the Program is to inspire a new generation of American scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs by celebrating living role models in these fields.

Inventions and Discoveries
An alphabetical list of inventions and brief facts about them and their inventors, from the LearningNetwork at Infoplease.com.

Inventors
Gateway to comprehensive links and information on inventors and inventing, from About.com.

Inventors
Gateway to over 250 inventor links, from Cybersleuth Kids.

National Inventor's Hall of Fame
Database of inventor profiles and invention information, searchable by keyword and by subject, from the National Inventors Hall of Fame™ in Akron, Ohio which honors the women and men responsible for the great technological advances that make human, social and economic progress possible.

People and Discoveries
What's the story behind electroshock therapy? Who's responsible for increasing the size of the Universe? What laboratory mishap led to the saving of countless lives? The answers to these questions, plus many more, in this databank consisting of 120 entries about 20th century scientists and their stories. From WGBH and pbs.org.

Search Results: Invention
A long list of feature articles, almanac entries and more, from the Fact Monster at the Learning Network.

The Spirit of American Innovation: The National Medal of Technology
Enacted by Congress in 1980 and first awarded in 1985, the medal is given annually for accomplishments in the innovation, development, commercialization, and management of technology. Browse or search all of the medal winners from 1985 forward, read about the current Laureates, click on three panoramas - home, office, and hospital - to discover the profound change innovation has brought to the world, and more, from the Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, CA.

Spotlight: Biography - Inventors
Brief facts about famous American inventors - including Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and Eli Whitney - from Smithsonian Education, made possible by a grant from the Smithsonian Women's Committee. Includes additional links to each inventor.

Transistorized!
"The transistor was probably the most important invention of the 20th Century, and the story behind the invention is one of clashing egos and top secret research...." From ScienCentral, Inc, and The American Institute of Physics, at pbs.org.

United States Patent and Trademark Office
All about patents, trademarks, copyrights, domain names, trade secrets and intellectual property in general. Searchable patent and tradmark full-text and image databases. Kid-friendly information available at the United States Patent and Trademark Office Kid's Page.

Zoom Inventors and Inventions
Basic information on inventors and inventions in alphabetical lists, or searchable by era or type, from EnchantedLearning.com.

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Last Updated: November 25, 2009